The First Wives by S. E. Reed is a dark, twisty, and addictive thriller that kept me guessing until the very end. I loved the tension, the sharp writing, and the way secrets unraveled with shocking intensity. It was gripping, clever, and impossible to put down. I truly enjoyed this book and rated it five stars.

I love a good psychological, twisty thriller and this one was definitely the perfect read.. Full of lies and deception.. and all the unexpected turns!!

Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy in return for my honest opinion.

Title: The First Wives
Author: S. E. Reed
Publisher: Storm Publishing
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Pub Date: September 24, 2025
My Rating: 3 Stars
Pages: 319

Story starts with Hannah McMIllian, who is a trad-wife influencer married to Court who is in crypto finance. They have four year old twins Rowen and Ruby. Hannah loves her children additionally enjoys taking photos of them to post for her social media followers.
They live in beautiful steel and glass Fort Meyer’s beach front mansion.

After four years of privacy, new neighbors move into the’ ‘steel and glass’ mansion next door. However, when Hannah meets Sophie Carter whose husband Blake is also in finance, she feels she has met someone who understands the same pressures of living with high standards.
They become friends.
Until Hannah discovers Sophia has secrets and things aren’t the same.

This story is described as a ‘popcorn’ thriller” by several reviewers - meaning’ – a fast moving story that draws readers in immediately, and then holds your attention.
Okay I’m in as it sounds great,
Hmmm ‘I guess I read too many thrillers but this one didn’t live up to my expectation.
I wanted to like Hannah but she was making it difficult for me. Sophie was easy not to like.

About the Author ~ S.E. Reed is an award-winning multi-genre author. She grew up in the Pacific Northwest, but longed to see the rest of America. After living in all five regions, she finally settled in Florida–nestled between the swampy Everglades and Atlantic Ocean. Many of her stories have a strong contemporary southern theme, but she also dabbles in the strange, bizarre, and fantastical

Ms, Reed is new to me.
Although I didn’t love this - I’ll give her another chance.

Want to thank NetGalley and Storm Publishing for granting me this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 24, 2025.

Hannah, the trad wife influencer, is married to a man she thought was the man of her dreams. Her new neighbor seems to be a great friend prospect. How did it all go so wrong? Just when you think you have this story figured out, you'll be hit with a twist you never dreamed of. Definitely recommend!

The First Wives by S. E. Reed is a sharp, addictive psychological thriller that had me glued from the very first page. Hannah seems to have it all—a glamorous life as a lifestyle influencer, adorable twins, and a billionaire husband who provides every luxury. But when Sophia moves in next door, Hannah quickly embraces her as the friend she has been missing. What begins as an exciting new friendship soon spirals into something far darker, as secrets start to surface and the lines between trust and betrayal blur.

Reed masterfully builds tension throughout the novel, keeping the reader constantly second-guessing every motive and every reveal. Hannah’s perspective is engaging and layered—her insecurities, paranoia, and instincts make her both relatable and sympathetic, even as her world begins to crumble around her. Sophia is an equally fascinating character, charming on the surface but carrying unsettling secrets that make her presence impossible to ignore.

What I loved most was how Reed uses atmosphere and pace to drive the story forward. Each chapter peels back a new layer of intrigue, and the steady rise of tension makes it impossible to stop reading. Just when I thought I had figured it out, the story took another turn that left me reeling. The conclusion is chilling, satisfying, and exactly the payoff I was hoping for.

This is a cleverly plotted, fast-paced thriller that examines friendship, obsession, and the lies people tell to keep their carefully built lives intact. If you love thrillers that are both entertaining and unsettling, The First Wives is one you do not want to miss.

Hannah lives a picture perfect life as a trad wife influencer, with her rich, successful husband and their young twins. Soon they get a new neighbor, Sophia, whose husband is also rich and spends most of his time traveling. As Sophia quickly becomes the friend Hannah has been missing, she discovers Sophia has been lying to her. Hannah starts to question the woman she thought was her friend, her husband and her perfect life.

This was a quick read that I thought I had all figured out (I knew the first twist, but didn't see the rest coming). I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by this author.

Not a fan—really a 2.5 rounded up. The story was too slow, predictable, and at times far-fetched. The Hannah–Matt backstory was disappointing, though the characters were well-developed, and I especially liked Cassie, Jamie, and Sinclair. I enjoyed the author’s writing style, and it was an easy read.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

I just finished reading this book. The plot was absolutely fantastic! It was quite the page turner, and I could not put the book down once I began reading it. I can't wait for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

This book was absolutely amazing!! I was hooked right from the beginning and didn’t want to put it down. The twists and turns were shocking. I thought the characters were well developed and was extremely shocked about Sophie’s past and secrets. I was really into the characters and actually felt sad at certain times during the book which I won’t reveal because I don’t want to spoil anything. This is a must read psychological thriller that I highly recommend.

Thank you, Storm Publishing, for sending me this ARC. 🥰

I genuinely liked this book. It was quick, engaging, and a fun read overall. I was hooked right from the start. I read this in one evening - couldn't put it down!

The only reason I didn't rate this higher is that the twist was almost nonexistent. From the first few chapters, I had a pretty good idea of how the story would unfold. Despite that, I still enjoyed it because it really held my attention.

The characters were interesting and had some complexity and depth. The plot had many layers to It, even though the twist was somewhat predictable.

If you're looking for a quick binge, this one is worth grabbing. 3.5, but rounding up because, as I said a bunch of times, I could not put this book down. 😂🤭

Pub day: 24 Sep 2025

As always, all thoughts are my own. 🖤✨

Thriller .......
Chiller ........
Secret spiller ..........
A take on the desperate housewives series with the husband firmly in the frame and friendships pushed to the edge of sanity.....

First of all, it’s excellent. I was provided a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Although I kinda figured out what was happening, the twists and turns leave you breathless.
The book is about Hannah. She’s a trad wife influencer and her husband is a billionaire. Life is good. Then Sophia moves in next door. And the plot takes off. Definitely worth the read

I read this book about a week ago and now as I sit to write my review I can barely recall the book at all. Which leads me to say this was not a memorable book in any way. I have gone back to refersh myself and I found the characters to be trite and the premise unbelievable. The back and forth between these two women would never happen in a real life situation. The writing was basic and I had to push myself to finish to get to the "twist" that was also ridiculous. I would not waste my time on this. One star from me.

Wow!!! Is all I can say about this absolutely outstanding book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope there is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked! This was an outstanding novel from the cover to the last page!

I couldn’t get into this at the beginning so I skipped ahead. Seems like all the good stuff is after 60%. But it had some huge things I didn’t see coming! Slow start but good ending. Not overly impressed overall.

This novel takes a fascinating premise and executes it with precision, building a tense and compelling narrative around the intertwined lives of two women who are connected by the same man.

Reed's writing is sharp and engaging, and she masterfully explores the complex dynamics of jealousy, revenge, and the secrets that bind people together. The plot is a clever maze, full of red herrings and twists that will keep you guessing.

The tension in this book is palpable, and the author does a phenomenal job of creating a constant sense of unease. You'll find yourself questioning every character's motive and second-guessing every new piece of information.

Without giving anything away, I can confidently say that the journey to the final reveal is a thrilling ride, and the ending is both surprising and deeply satisfying. For anyone who loves a psychological thriller with high stakes and an unforgettable premise, pick this one up!

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for a temporary e-ARC!

Wow!
This book was very hard to put down, I blasted though it in one day !

Hannah has the perfect life, she’s a very proud mum of twins and is a very successful influencer. She has the perfect billionaire husband…or so she thought.
Everything changes with a new neighbour moves in and Hannah’s life unravels.

Thank you so much storm publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity of reading the ARC.

4:5 stars :) rounded to 5

At first I started to dislike Hannah. She seemed too privileged and self-absorbed. As I went on, I saw her as a loving person, trusting, sincere, and likable. I suspected what was going to happen to her life, but this made me want to see how she would feel and do about it. I felt she would eventually thrive since I had already seen she was strong and knew how to make situations better. I did not like that there was nothing about the children' s confusion over the death. At their age, they would have had feelings. I did like this book. Overall, this book was worth my time.

Wow! The First Wives is a gripping psychological thriller that kept me reading into the wee small hours. We have Hannah, who appears to have it all: a billionaire husband, beautiful twins, and a seemingly perfect 'trad wife' life.
However, her idyllic world begins to crumble with the arrival of her new neighbor, the mysterious Sophia, who clearly has more issues than Vogue.
As Hannah's carefully constructed reality unravels, she must return to her roots, and muster her inner strength, relying on those she trusts and staying one step ahead.
S.E. Reed brilliantly depicts Hannah's growing paranoia and confusion, making her a protagonist I was rooting for from beginning to end.
With its relentless pace, unexpected twists, and an ending tied up as neatly as a gift box full of vegetable infused cakes, this book is a must read for thriller fans.
My thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the privilege of the ARC.

This was such a fun, fast read that totally sucked me in! Hannah is an influencer trying to show off the “perfect life” online, but behind the scenes she barely knows her own husband. She quickly bonds with her new neighbor Sophia, who has some secrets of her own. This one had me flipping pages with all the twists and turns. If you’re into quick, twisty thrillers, definitely add this to your list!

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.