The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins (ARC Review)

Synopsis:

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?

My Thoughts:

I read a LOT of books based on cover art. I know, I know, it's not a great way of picking books. But it's always a great surprise to find yourself in a clever retelling. This psychological thriller is a modern remake of Jane Eyre!

Our heroine is young Jane (not her real name), who has bounced back and forth in foster care before finally ageing out, and starting her adult life as a dog-sitter in a very posh neighborhood. Her paths cross with Eddie Rochester's, a handsome widower with a mysterious past. Eddie, true to the original Rochester, has a lot of rough edges. Like the original Rochester, I didn't like him at all! And as the title explicitly tells us, he does indeed have his (alive) wife, Bea (Bertha) captive upstairs. Shenanigans ensue.

I'm a reluctant fan of Jane Eyre, and found this retelling lots of fun. The mystery was also fun to unravel, with lots of twists and surprises. This was a perfect summer read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Look for a copy at your local bookstore  January 2021!