Jill Is Not Happy

Some secrets keep a couple together.If you ask Jill Tingley, she’ll tell you she and her husband Jack are college sweethearts living the dream in Southern California. Wealthy, popular and genetically blessed, theirs is an enviable life, though they’ve grown distant in recent years. Newly empty nesting with their daughter Maggie away at college, Jill suggests a road trip to reconnect.Jack would rather do anything else than drive to Utah with his wife. He’s only stayed in this marriage because of a shared secret, a tragedy in the past he wanted to keep buried. And for his daughter’s sake. But Jack is finished with the charade of his marriage. He’s filing for divorce as soon as they return, no matter what.

Each couple is a universe full of things, and sometimes those things include dark secrets and constant tensions. Rouda, who developed her chops for characters in turmoil writing romance before successfully making the move to thrillers, understands this deeply, and her works show it. A perfect book for anyone craving a deep dive into an extremely toxic relationship.--Gabino Iglesias "CrimeReads"

Kaira Rouda has crafted a chilling, spine-tingling novel of domestic suspense. Jill Tingley is one of the scariest characters of the year.-- "BookReporter" (6/14/2025 12:00:00 AM)

This is bold and bracing writing, and Rouda is to be celebrated for maintaining suspense and pacing with really only two characters, and their respective maneuvers and manipulations, to follow. Truly great stuff that leaves you in awe of Rouda's talent and daring. Jill may not be happy, but you will be for digging in.--Jon Land "BookTrib" (5/31/2025 12:00:00 AM)

The Next Wife is trademark Kaira Rouda with its deliciously devilish women and inherently ignorant men, but this might be one of her most villainous novels yet. Masterful.-- "BookReporter on The Next Wife"

A carefully crafted domestic and psychological thriller of a novel by [an] author with a genuine flair for originality and the kind of narrative storytelling style that fully engages the reader's attention from first page to last, The Next Wife by Kaira Rouda will prove to be an immediate and enduringly welcome addition to community library collections.-- "Midwest Book Review on The Next Wife"

Alfred Hitchcock meets Patricia Highsmith in this masterful novel of psychological suspense. Quietly horrifying, tightly wound and diabolical, The Favorite Daughter is a stunning page-turner.--A.J. Banner on The Favorite Daughter

Chilling, satisfying suspense...it will cost you sleep as you race through the pages.-- "Good Housekeeping on Best Day Ever"

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Add another scorned woman and you have the ingredients for one firestorm of a novel...Bring the popcorn for this high-noon of a novel, replete with deliciously snarky dialogue and a satisfying twist-- "Library Journal on The Next Wife"

Intense, creepy and an instant classic. A chilling story, told so well!--J.T. Ellison on The Favorite Daughter

Kaira Rouda balances the sassiness and wit of Real Housewives with the suspense and excitement of a Hitchcock film, creating a true page-turner that is sharp and fun while still gripping and tension filled. The Next Wife is almost impossible to put down! Brilliant.-- "The Nerd Daily on The Next Wife"