The Last Mrs. Parrish: A Reese's Book Club Pick

It was similar to other books I read. It filled time for me. I was not enthralled with the characters.

What a fabulous read! So diabolical and plotted out so well. Honestly surprised the Ladies Constantine haven't sued McFadden for plagiarism since their plots are so sooooo similar. I can't wait to read the sequel!

A woman will do anything for freedom.chi!stem and money. Enjoyed the story and entertainmen.can't wait for part two and the surprise

It seems like I don't often start a book with the villain point of view, knowing they are the villain. Nice twist. On to book 2.

This book had a very slow start for me—I had to push myself to keep reading for at least the first hundred pages. The pacing felt weighed down with excessive detail, which made the beginning drag. However, about halfway through, things picked up and my interest returned. The story started to pull me in, and a few twists along the way kept it engaging.It reminded me a lot of The Housemaid’s Secret, and I’m not sure which was published first, but the similarities were hard to ignore. That said, there were a few original plot turns that I genuinely enjoyed. Unfortunately, while the ending had potential, it felt a bit rushed compared to the drawn-out opening.Overall, it was a mixed experience—slow to start, but ultimately entertaining once it found its rhythm.

Very similar to The Housemaid in some ways but with an extra ooomph. This book was so good, and I just learned there’s a prequel on Amber’s life too if you wanted to dig more into that. I’m curious to see what The Next Mrs. Parrish holds. Do yourself a favor and read this one!

This book was really good. It began with a sort of story that was a little predictable, but still really well written, but then it took a great twist. I do think that the ending was a bit over the top.

I got this as a Sample I read the sample and it was so good I went ahead and bought the book. I loved how it started out and then the middle you learned a lot more and then the Ending where everything Got good and everybody got what they deserved.

💍 👒 🏖️I wasn’t as surprised about the twist because it’s similar to another popular book *cough* Housemaid.I think housemaid was more horrifying twisty and this one was realistic twisty.I enjoyed it and recommend!

Be patient, very unexpected turns. It’s a good read. You hate her and you love the twist.You feel for Daphne.Good ending

I almost gave up on this novel and actually very begrudgingly read the first 40% or so. The writing style is choppy and almost basic and Amber is a terrible person. Even in the end I found no redeeming qualities. I kept thinking “why am I reading this” and then came pet two and the entire novel turned. Style sophomoric in the writing with Amber still even you go back in time and see the story from Daphne’s pint of view. I longer was I lost in an evil woman’s quest to steal a man, I was in a story of love and loss and getting lost in someone before you know who they are.Without giving away the story, the excitement elevates and it’s a good chase.I did find the ending a bit of a cop out. The final chapter in Jackson’s office is unnecessary.Read at your own risk and know you’ll find a great twist or three a long the way.

Just about 3.5 stars. It was okay, the twist wasn’t the best but it was just eh to me. Debating on reading the second one.

This book was truly a page turner. The manipulation portrayed was mind boggling, and the book really played with emotions. I never knew what was going to happen in the next chapter. Overall a good read.

In The Last Mrs. Parrish, Liv Constantine introduces readers to a thrilling tale of ambition and manipulation that explores the dangerous depths of envy. Amber Patterson, tired of her mundane life as an overlooked and ordinary woman, becomes obsessed with the glamorous lifestyle of Daphne Parrish—the beautiful socialite who embodies everything Amber longs for.In the exclusive town of Bishops Harbor, Connecticut, Daphne and her husband, Jackson, are revered as the perfect couple. However, Amber is determined to change her fate. She cleverly ingratiates herself into Daphne's life, becoming her closest confidante and leveraging Daphne's kindness to execute her meticulous plan of deceit. As she travels with the Parrish family and becomes increasingly entangled with Jackson, Amber's ambitions seem within reach.But as the story unfolds, secrets from Amber's past threaten to unravel her carefully constructed facade. With unexpected twists and dark revelations, The Last Mrs. Parrish keeps readers on the edge of their seats, making it a gripping psychological suspense novel. Constantine's debut is a masterclass in intrigue, exploring the complexities of desire and the lengths one will go to achieve a coveted life, making it an addictive read that lingers long after the final page.

This book has been on my list since it came out in 2017. So when I received an advance copy for the The Next Mrs. Parrish, it had to read this one. Check one book off my TBR list, only 4,999 more to go.What a fun, guilty pleasure! Told in two voices…Amber, a wannabe on the rich and famous scene and Daphne, the perfect wife, perfect life. We follow these two women and see how their lives come together. What starts as an orchestrated meeting evolves into a so-called friendship, and so much more. We are lulled into focusing on one woman’s obsession with fame and fortune and the other’s perfect husband, family, life. Be careful what you wish for! The man at the center, Daphne’s husband Jackson, is rich, smart, successful with movie star looks. But, under this perfect exterior, is the heart of a sociopath.I did not see that coming! With Amber, I immediately took a strong dislike. She is a the picture of narcissist, a totally unlikable human. My heart is already empathizing for Daphne. A socialite with a heart of gold, although a little naive, or is she? Jackson, a character I loved/hated. The storyline was entertaining, and had me totally absorbed from the beginning. Over the top fun. I loved the character development, taking my assessment of each from one extreme to the another.This book is full of twists and turns which makes it a perfect summer read. It sucked me in at a time when I needed an unputdownable read. As I finish this one, I’m jumping right into the sequel, The Next Mrs. Parrish.

Definitely kept me on the edge of my seat!Amber Patterson wants the life that she thinks she deserves.She wants to be pampered and spoiled by a rich husband. To have beautiful lavish gifts bestowed upon her. To have the powerful, handsome, and rich, Jackson Parrish all to herself.Only problem, his wife Daphne is standing in her way.She quickly devises a plan to befriend Daphne and it doesn’t take long for Amber to become her confidante. The more Amber learns, the greater her jealousy for Daphne grows, until she finds that she will stop at nothing to get what she wants.Things I Loved:- This book definitely had lots of twists and turns. Towards the end I could not turn the pages fast enough and I did not want to put it down!- The short chapters had me wanting more and more.- The two different points of view! I loved hearing both sides recounting what was going on.- The characters had so much depth. My favorites were of course the girls, Tallulah and Bella, Daphne, and the co-worker, Jenna.Things I Didn’t love:- I would have appreciated a trigger warning list. The fat-shaming, constant SA, DV, and substantial Emotional abuse caught me a little off guard at first.Overall, it was a very captivating psychological thriller!

Amber knows what she wants in life, and that’s to be a rich man’s wife. She longs for the easy life — wealth, spas, vacations, jewelry, handbags — and she finds it all in Mr. Jackson Parrish. There’s only one problem: he’s already married to Daphne. Daphne is tall, blonde, beautiful. What’s worse? Jackson is crazy about her, can’t take his eyes off her. But Amber knows just what to do to win him over. She’s younger than Daphne, more attractive too (once her “ugly disguise” comes off), all points in her favor. But first, she must win over Daphne and their two young daughters. Amber will stop at nothing. She’s done it before. Even though she’s on the run and is under a different identity, her fugitive status won’t stop her from having the affluent life of a socialite she “deserves” to have, even if it means destroying everything and everyone around her.But looks could be deceiving. She should know, and yet she doesn’t see what is clearly in front of her...The first half of this book — Amber’s point of view — is rather dull, and the third-person narrative doesn’t help. I put this book down more times than I care to admit. I almost gave up on it. But I pressed on. Both Ammy and Netflix acquired the film rights for this book. The former cancelled the project, and the latter took over. So I pressed on. It gets better, so much better I couldn’t put the Kindle down. Daphne’s (first-person) point of view is so much more riveting. You’ll want to keep reading. I can’t wait to see it in motion.THE LAST MRS. PARRISH is a cross between A SIMPLE FAVOR and BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. This sister team knows how to write a smart thriller with interesting twists. It appears to be straightforward, but watch out for those curve balls!Downsides? The first half. Read it anyway. If you like domestic thrillers with ASPD characters, then this is a must-read! Four out of five Five-Spice hazelnut lattes with “hybrid” steamed milk-slash-syrup (my new obsession!).

2.5 stars, and the realization that I need to be more careful about who I take book recommendations from, though seems like I’m in the minority here in having several problems with this book.What happens when two psychopaths collide? Lazy writing apparently. Interesting characters deserve and need nuance. When you’re writing about 2 people who are just 100% pure evil, there’s no subtly, no depth, just the minor whiplash you feel once the mask comes off.Amber is the ambitious psychopath narrating the first half of this book in her attempt to break up a marriage and hitch herself to a filthy rich dude. She’s Ani from Luckiest Girl Alive, except devoid of a soul. Jackson Parrish is the aforementioned filthy rich dude, essentially Jack from Behind Closed Doors but maybe a bit less sadistic. Daphne is the perfect wife whose story you learn in the latter half, essentially Grace from Behind Closed Doors but with more of a backbone.Now Daphne is set up as the good guy in all of this, through and through, but the retaliatory justice she engages in made me sick to my stomach. Sure, Amber is a one dimensional dumpster of a human being, but to concoct this plan to pawn off her abusive psychopath of a husband onto her forever is almost equally awful. Sure, with all the financial stuff at the end, he might go to jail, but still doesn’t justify it in my opinion.Don’t get me wrong, the plot’s interesting enough to keep the pages turning, but in a book with basically 3 characters, when 2 of them are shallow and flat, something’s definitely lacking. Way too much time was spent on Amber lambasting the lifestyles of the rich. The switch in perspectives was predictable, after all, the book announces it by starting off with the header “Amber”. The twist with Jackson, while twisty, was not really surprising. I’d recommend it for a light and quick, albeit dark read, but certainly not as glowingly as everyone else has.

I'm conflicted about this thriller. There were times I felt like I was barely reading a three star book and other times it almost reached a five. I decided to meet in the middle and settled on four stars. I'm still not sure that was the correct choice...SUMMARYThe story, initially told from Amber's point of view, opens with Amber orchestrating an "accidental" meeting at the gym between herself and Daphne Parish. Daphne is the wife of Jackson Parrish, one of the most wealthy, influential (not to mention good-looking) men in a Connecticut town full of wealthy, influential people.Daphne seems to have to perfect life; a handsome, very rich husband, two adorable girls and one of the most beautiful homes in town full of beautiful homes. The only downside seems to be that she desperately misses her sister who died from CF (Cystic Fibrosis) almost twenty years earlier. Aside from her husband and children, Daphne's passion is the not-for-profit, Julie's Smile, she started in her sisters honor.Because she is a girl who does her homework, Amber knows to use a feigned CF connection to insinuate herself into Daphne's life. It works like a charm. Soon the two women become fast friends, bonding over the loss of their beloved sisters - pretend loss on Ambers part.It becomes clear early on that Amber's end goal is to steal Jackson from Daphne, becoming the next Mrs. Parrish. It seems she will go to any lengths to get what she wants.Part two is told from Daphne's point of view, and that's where the book gets interesting. Is there more to the story than there appears to be? Is Daphne more than an over privileged housewife with a staff of household help and a charmed life? Author, Liv Constantine (actually co-authoring sisters, Valerie and Lynne Constantine), slowly reveals the story behind the story and it's quite a tale!!!WHAT I LOVEDInitially, I thought I was reading kind of a flat 'been there, done that' recycled plot. Not a bad one, but not very unique. I kept going because this book received positive reviews from some of my GR friends so I knew it had to be good. Glad I did!! Although there were a few clues dropped during Amber's narrative, letting the reader know there would be more to the story, the plot really picked up once Daphne's account began. I love that the story is told by two different characters. It was so much fun to hear what each was thinking about various events.The main twist, which was revealed about halfway through the book, was AWESOME! I LOVED it so much!!! It was one of those five star moments.I loved the parts of the book including Daphne and Jackson's girls, Bella and Tallulah. Bella brought some honest kid moments, expressing her opinion without a filter. It was amusing.At first I didn't like Daphne as a character, but she grew on me and by the end I loved her!!There was a lot more to love, but those are the highlights.WHAT I DIDN'T LOVESome parts were a bit predictable. I wasn't super impressed with some of the things Jackson did and said, he seemed like many male characters in books I've read before.Most of the characters were pretty black and white. The 'good' characters were very good, probably wearing halo's but the bad characters were pretty irredeemable. I've prefer characters with a little more grey.The end tied things up a little to nearly. I do like a clear, defined ending, but this was just a little too perfect and convenient. Don't get me wrong, I was happy it ended that way but it was just too neat of a bow on the package.OVERALLAddictively readable thriller which was more than I expected.

For full disclosure (and because I’m so giddy about this), I know the authors. One of them has known me for nearly my whole life and I have seen her sister at various occasions throughout my life as well. But! My 4-star rating is not gosh-wash; this is a terrific novel.I don’t often choose novels with characters of this type; i.e., the super-rich society people. I’m not very interested in celebrities or people who live that lifestyle, however, this element was essential to the plot and was masterfully employed.The novel winds along following, from an omniscient point-of-view, Amber Patterson, a small-town “nobody,”who seeks to insinuate herself into the lives of Daphne and Jackson Parrish, super-rich society people. You will hate Amber almost from the first page as you see how deviously she plans her moves and how despicably she will go about getting what she wants.But where the novel really blew my mind was in Part II, when we now see the story as it unfolded from Daphne’s point-of-view. Oh. My. Gosh! If an author can surprise me, they have me forever and that is just what happened from the first line of Part II. I already had some notions about how this book was going to go, but I WAS WRONG! The central twist of plot was not what I expected. Who is bad in this story and in what way they are bad DID surprise me! (Well, except for Amber; she is bad from the first word to the last.)The authors do a superb job of describing the sociopathic behavior of a character. The acts are so wrong and yet ring utterly true. The turtles. The food. The journals. The initials. The gaslighting. It’s terrific.My only mild complaint about the story, and why it gets 4 stars and not five, (Actually, I would give it 4.5 if I could, because this is minor) is that the pacing towards the end is very fast and some details are not resolved comprehensively. In other words, there was great story tension surrounding a couple of questions (i.e., is she pregnant with a boy?), but those questions are answered in an incidental way, which felt like a betrayal of the tension torqued up earlier. Perhaps the authors had more to say about those things, but they had to be shaved for length. It wasn’t a serious problem.In summary, this book was a great page-turner that was hard to put down. It showed great insight into how people behave, especially where devious and manipulative people are concerned. If there’s a lesson in the book, it is that you never know what goes on behind closed doors, and money is clearly not everything.