The Wife Upstairs: A Novel

Instant New York Times and USA Today Bestseller

"Compulsively readable...a gothic thriller laced with arsenic." ––EW


One of the Most Anticipated Books of 2021: CNN Newsweek • Vulture • PopSugar • Parade • BuzzFeed • E!Online TimeOut • Woman's Day • Goodreads • She Reads • Good Housekeeping • CrimeReads • Frolic • Hello! Mystery and Suspense

January 2021 Indie Next Pick and #1 LibraryReads Pick

A delicious twist on a Gothic classic, The Wife Upstairs pairs Southern charm with atmospheric domestic suspense, perfect for fans of B.A. Paris and Megan Miranda.

Meet Jane. Newly arrived to Birmingham, Alabama, Jane is a broke dog-walker in Thornfield Estates––a gated community full of McMansions, shiny SUVs, and bored housewives. The kind of place where no one will notice if Jane lifts the discarded tchotchkes and jewelry off the side tables of her well-heeled clients. Where no one will think to ask if Jane is her real name.

But her luck changes when she meets Eddie Rochester. Recently widowed, Eddie is Thornfield Estates’ most mysterious resident. His wife, Bea, drowned in a boating accident with her best friend, their bodies lost to the deep. Jane can’t help but see an opportunity in Eddie––not only is he rich, brooding, and handsome, he could also offer her the kind of protection she’s always yearned for.

Yet as Jane and Eddie fall for each other, Jane is increasingly haunted by the legend of Bea, an ambitious beauty with a rags-to-riches origin story, who launched a wildly successful southern lifestyle brand. How can she, plain Jane, ever measure up? And can she win Eddie’s heart before her past––or his––catches up to her?

With delicious suspense, incisive wit, and a fresh, feminist sensibility, The Wife Upstairs flips the script on a timeless tale of forbidden romance, ill-advised attraction, and a wife who just won’t stay buried. In this vivid reimagining of one of literature’s most twisted love triangles, which Mrs. Rochester will get her happy ending?

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279 pages

Average rating: 6.84

517 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

alyrusciano
Mar 24, 2025
6/10 stars
For full review, check out my blog: https://alyrusciano.wordpress.com/2021/08/18/the-wife-upstairs-review

I wanted to like this book, but I was rather disappointed. THE WIFE UPSTAIRS’ leading protagonist is simply unlikeable. Where Bronte’s Jane is headstrong but gentle, Hawkins’ Jane is egotistical and harsh. The soft and relatable characteristics of Bronte’s Jane are tossed out the window as Hawkins crafts a version of the character that is disagreeably snotty.
AColletti
Mar 14, 2025
7/10 stars
5 stars
thebooktroup
Jan 30, 2025
6/10 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a free audio copy of The Wife Upstairs in exchange for my honest review. I was ecstatic to get an early listen of this domestic thriller after seeing so many glowing reviews on Instagram and NetGalley. I enjoyed the concept of a multiple-POV retelling of Jane Eyre set in the American south. There are plenty of lies, rumors, and twists to keep you turning the pages towards an ending you can't see coming. However, I found myself incredibly annoyed with the shallow, heavily stereotyped wealthy Southern characters. I think the stereotypes were further exaggerated in the audiobook due to the cheesy accents and "bless her heart" style dialogue. While I love a quick-read thriller to read in between my more serious reads, this one just missed the mark for me.
Anonymous
Jan 14, 2025
8/10 stars
3.5 stars rounded up because it kept my interest. This is an entertaining and twisty modern novel based loosely on Jane Eyre. I read it for my book club and it will make an interesting discussion.
Anonymous
Jan 08, 2025
6/10 stars
I didn’t enjoy the multiple POV story-telling. I personally thought it detracted from some of the mystery and suspense that a thriller can afford a reader. Too much was handed to the reader. Overall, an entertaining read.

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