Wife Upstairs

I do think this book was a fun read. I loved all of the direct references to Jane Eyre since this is a retelling of that story. It was nice seeing references to John Rivers, Jane, Edward Rochester, and Thornfield.
There are two storylines to help keep the reader engaged throughout the story. There was the mystery of Jane’s past and a one involving two missing women.
Overall, I didn't think this story was very innovative or groundbreaking, but enjoyable nonetheless.

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.

The perfectly engaging thriller/sort of romance to get me through a bout of COVID. A modern retelling of Jane Eyre, a book I hated from the first time I read it in high school. This Jane is far less insipid, and this novel has much more fun with the twists and turns of gothic literature, plus some added social commentary.

Secrets secrets secrets. So many secrets! I was constantly wondering what each character's real truth was. And by the end, the moral of the story is that you never really know someone. This book was clearly far fetched, with some slight soap-opera-esque qualities to the storyline. I didn't suspect such an open ended finale however and I think I much prefer her "alternative" ending that was included. All in all- not a bad book.

I received an advanced Kindle Copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan USA for the opportunity!

The story centers around Jane who seems to be running from something, as she alludes to some trouble she has left behind in Arizona. She has found a job dog walking in a fancy neighborhood that is a ways away from her dilapidated apartment she shares with her roommate whom she barely knows, but was there when she needed somewhere to go. She is enticed by the big homes, the shiny jewelry the women wear, and the riches they seem to swim within but detests them, all the same. As she walks one of her clients’ dogs around the neighborhood a car screeches out of a garage and nearly runs her and the poor dog over, as she manages to fall out of the way. The man behind the wheel steps out to apologize and invite her in for a coffee. As she steps inside his house, she becomes entranced by this man and starts visualizing how she can make this world her own. The only problem is, his wife and best friend are believed to be dead on an accident on the water and she may not be quite sure if the man, Eddie is truly innocent.

The book was a fast read and definitely kept me guessing quite a ways through the book. However, I was a little disappointed in the ending and had a love/hate relationship with Jane throughout, which may have been the author’s intent. Overall, I enjoyed the story but was looking for a bit more.