Reviews: The First Widows (7)
“Messy and Unhinged in the Best Possible Way!”
(Paperback)
Searching for a perfect friend in all the wrong places has never felt so dangerously addictive.
Building on the momentum of the brilliant First Wives, but easily read as a standalone, S.E. Reed delivers a chilling follow-up that explores the toxic insides of a seemingly ordinary suburban family.
When Sophia decides Rebecca is the missing piece of her life, she expects a fresh start, but as she inserts herself into Rebecca’s world, she finds a foundation already crumbling. Watching Sophia attempt to mould her new friend into a curated ideal is fascinating, yet it is the cracks in Rebecca’s own nature that truly unsettle.
As Rebecca's true personality begins to surface, the relationship spirals into a chaotic, suffocating fracture.
The character development is superb, stripping away every mask to reveal the unhinged reality beneath. I found my loyalties shifting between the two women in the beginning as the narrative spiralled toward an ending that was tied up as neatly as a Broadway show programme wrapped in a bow.
I loved Ekaterina and her witty comments, but seeing Hannah again was the perfect icing on the cake.
If you love a messy, twisty domestic thriller that keeps you reading into the wee small hours, this is an absolute must-read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC. This is my own opinion.
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
“domestic thriller”
(Paperback)
The First Widows hooked me from the very first pages with its quiet tension and beautifully controlled unraveling of two women’s lives. Sophia and Rebecca meet in the most ordinary of places—a paint‑and‑sip class in New York—but their connection quickly deepens into something far more complicated, tender, and unsettling. The early chapters have a lovely softness to them: two women finding comfort, purpose, and a sense of belonging in each other’s company. It feels safe… until it absolutely isn’t.
What I loved most is how the story shifts almost imperceptibly from companionship to claustrophobia. The moment Sophia opens Rebecca’s journal out of “curiosity,” you can feel the ground tilt. That single act becomes the hinge on which the entire novel turns, revealing layers of secrets, shifting power, and the kind of domestic danger that hides in plain sight.
The writing is crisp and immersive, with a steady, simmering dread that never tips into melodrama. Fans of Freida McFadden and Jeneva Rose will appreciate the sharp twists, but what sets this book apart is its emotional intelligence—the way it explores loneliness, loyalty, and the lengths people will go to protect the version of family they believe they deserve.
A dark, addictive domestic thriller that lingers long after the final page. Perfect for readers who enjoy elegant tension, morally messy characters, and the slow, delicious realization that no one in this house is telling the whole truth.
My thanks to SE Reed, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
“Suspenseful”
(Paperback)
There were a lot of unexplained deaths in this story, which was a bit concerning. So much going on in the background and the unexpected happening quite regularly.. It certainly kept me on my toes but it did have a happy ending!
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
“Interesting.”
(Paperback)
THE FIRST WIDOWS - Unfortunately, I missed the first book since I enjoyed this book so much. Interesting story lines, a variety of good characters, and intriguing thought patterns made this a hard to put down read. I like the writing style of the author, not wordy. Source: NetGalley and Storm Publishing. 4*
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
“Great psychological thriller”
(Paperback)
4.5*
This is a book that you won't want to put down, it is both captivating and disturbing in equal measures.
Nurse Rebecca Hendricks is good at her job, but she still basks in the reputation of her internationally known, paediatric cardiac surgeon husband, Dt Mitch Hendricks. Rebecca is stressed and lonely, juggling her work with two young children, a house and an ever absent husband, a husband who is not only famous but handsome and attractive to other women, she had been forced to put her ambition to be an actress on hold after one failed audition after another.
Rebecca meets wealthy art specialist, Sophia Carter and is captivated by her aura and her designer clothes, could this be a match made in heaven ? Rebecca is lonely and desperately needing help with her two young children, Sara and Bailey, Sophia yearns for a family that she can fit into and this one seems perfect, Rebecca's maternal instincts are practically zilch but Sophia has an instant connection with Sara and Bailey........the children love her from the beginning, what could go wrong ?
As this chilling story unfolds, the author builds up the suspense and the tension at a steady pace, Rebecca and Sophia fall into a companionable friendship but gradually the façade begins to crumble, all is not what it seems.
This is a well written, psychological thriller, I didn't particularly like any of the characters but I don't think that I was supposed to, Rebecca becomes more and more erratic, Sophia plants herself deeper into the family dynamic and uses her vast wealth to bribe and coerce, this book had me on the edge of my seat and guessing until the very end.
Thank you Storm Publishing and Net Gallery for this ARC, my review is totally voluntary.
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The First Widows: A Completely Unputdownable Domestic Thriller
Fiction & Poetry, Modern & Contemporary Fiction
S E Reed (author)
Paperback Published on: 17/03/2026
Price: £11.99

