The Wife Before by Shanora Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)

Whew… The Wife Before was a lot. Like, too much — in the best way.

Going in, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I’ve been down a full Shanora Williams rabbit hole lately, and I’ve learned not to overanalyze the summaries. I just dive in, because I love her writing — and this book did not disappoint.

I didn’t truly connect with any of the characters, mainly because none of them were wrapped too tight. And yes, every single one of them got on my nerves — Samira, Roland, Dylan, even Miley. They weren’t all unhinged at the same time, but trust me… the lunacy was always there.

The major theme here is abuse. It’s not always served front and center, but it’s absolutely present. If you’re sensitive to that topic, this may not be the book for you. Emotionally, I didn’t feel much beyond anxiety, mainly from trying to piece together what really happened to Melanie — and that tension kept me flipping pages nonstop.

The pacing was great, and the twists? Definitely not predictable. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out… nope. It’s something else entirely.

Overall, this was an awesome thriller, and I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone who enjoys dark, twisty reads that keep you guessing until the end.

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