When Emily falls in love, she finds out the hard way that there’s one other woman in her boyfriend’s life who isn’t ready to let go of him . . . his mother.
Emily Havistock, the narrator of Sandie Jones’ thrilling debut, falls hard and fast for Adam Banks. The two met at a work event in London, and their instant chemistry was too much to ignore. Soon, the two are spending all their time together. Things are going great for Emily, who now has her dream guy in hand, until Adam wants her to meet his mother, Pammie.
Instantly, the twenty-seven-year-old Emily has her love bubble popped by Pammie, who from the get-go takes issue with her, picking one fight after another in an attempt to drive a wedge between the happy couple. A series of fights, arguments, and nasty events occur, and all the while, Adam’s younger brother, James, takes a liking to Emily. But whereas most women would be scared off by Pammie, Emily isn’t. Defiant herself, Emily is more headstrong than the other women Adam’s brought home to meet his mum, kicking off a battle of heavyweights as both women fight over Adam’s loyalty and love.
As the war wages onward, Emily fights to land her man but becomes increasingly worried about just how far Pammie, a widow with plenty of time and motive, will go to make sure her son doesn’t leave home for good to spend his life with another woman. Everything comes to a head eventually, and the outcome is sure to leave readers gasping in shock at Jones’ stunning final twist, which lands viciously and without warning.
Sandie Jones goes for it all with her fast-paced, suspense-filled debut. Emily is a relatable lead character, and the dialogue reads genuine and true. Likewise, the characters are all nicely developed, especially Emily and Pammie, who drive the story for much of the book. At first, the plot feels generic, like a re-telling of stories featured in about a hundred chick-flicks and rom-coms, before Jones pivots hard, allowing her plot to take on a darker tone in the process. It’s here where she shines the most, raising the stakes while throwing a heavy dose of wicked curves to readers . . . buckling knees and dropping jaws in the process.
Sandie Jones is the real deal. The Other Woman is a stunning psychological thriller on par with Harlan Coben’s Fool Me Once, and a serious contender for best twist of the year.
Book Details
Author: Sandie Jones
Pages: 304 (Hardcover)
ISBN: 125019198X
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Release Date: August 21, 2018
Book Spy Rating: 7.5/10
Praised as “one of today’s finest book reviewers” by New York Times bestselling author Gayle Lynds, Ryan Steck (“The Godfather of the thriller genre” — Ben Coes) has “quickly established himself as the authority on mysteries and thrillers” (Author A.J. Tata). He currently lives in Southwest Michigan with his wife and their six children.