The Last Mrs. Parrish
Summary (from the publisher): A mesmerizing debut psychological thriller full of delicious twists about a coolly manipulative woman who worms her way into the lives of a wealthy “golden couple” from Connecticut to achieve the privileged life she wants.
Amber Patterson is fed up. She’s tired of being a nobody: a plain, invisible woman who blends into the background. She deserves more—a life of money and power like the one blond-haired, blue-eyed goddess Daphne Parrish takes for granted. To everyone in the exclusive town of Bishops Harbor, Connecticut, Daphne and her husband, Jackson—the beautiful philanthropist and the confident real estate mogul—are a golden couple straight out of a fairytale, blessed with two lovely young daughters.
Amber’s envy could eat her alive . . . if she didn't have a plan. Amber uses Daphne’s compassion and caring to insinuate herself into the family’s life—the first step in a meticulous scheme to undermine her. Before long, Amber is Daphne’s closest confidante, traveling to Europe with the Parrish family, and growing closer to Jackson. But a skeleton from her past may undermine everything that Amber has worked towards, and if it is discovered, her well-laid plan may fall to pieces.
With shocking turns and dark secrets that will keep you guessing until the very end, The Last Mrs. Parrish is a fresh, juicy, and utterly addictive thriller from a diabolically imaginative talent.
Amber Patterson is fed up. She’s tired of being a nobody: a plain, invisible woman who blends into the background. She deserves more—a life of money and power like the one blond-haired, blue-eyed goddess Daphne Parrish takes for granted. To everyone in the exclusive town of Bishops Harbor, Connecticut, Daphne and her husband, Jackson—the beautiful philanthropist and the confident real estate mogul—are a golden couple straight out of a fairytale, blessed with two lovely young daughters.
Amber’s envy could eat her alive . . . if she didn't have a plan. Amber uses Daphne’s compassion and caring to insinuate herself into the family’s life—the first step in a meticulous scheme to undermine her. Before long, Amber is Daphne’s closest confidante, traveling to Europe with the Parrish family, and growing closer to Jackson. But a skeleton from her past may undermine everything that Amber has worked towards, and if it is discovered, her well-laid plan may fall to pieces.
With shocking turns and dark secrets that will keep you guessing until the very end, The Last Mrs. Parrish is a fresh, juicy, and utterly addictive thriller from a diabolically imaginative talent.
Review: I received an advance reader's edition of this novel from HarperCollins.
This thriller follows Amber Patterson as she manipulates her way into the life of golden couple Daphne and Jackson Parrish. Amber, cold and bitter, is tired of being a nobody with nothing and sets her sights on the wealthy Jackson Parrish. She doesn't want just any rich lifestyle; she wants Daphne's life and plans to steals Jackson from her and take her place in the grand mansion the couple live in. First, she befriends Daphne and then she works on growing closer to Jackson. But a shocking turn of events threatens to turn the tables on Amber's schemes.
There are of course many elements to this novel that are unbelievable. Why does Daphne befriend and trust Amber so quickly? Why does Amber chose Jackson of all people? The only explanation is that "Amber wasn't interested in someone with a rich daddy. She wanted the rich daddy himself" (154), which frankly, made me roll my eyes. What exactly happened in Amber's past to make her so bitter? Amber relies on the belief that everyone around her is stupid to make progress and I found it difficult to believe that everyone would fall for her game so easily. The grand twist in the novel reveals a different side of Daphne, which felt at odds with who she was presented to be for the rest of the book.
On the other hand, this book was an excellent example of escapism. This felt like a junk food read - satisfying but ultimately insubstantial. It is fast paced and the build up and momentum were well done. The twist was surprising and the revenge satisfying. If you're looking for high literature, this is not your book, but if you're looking for a fast paced twisted tale of romance gone wrong, this is a win. This novel requires some serious suspension of disbelief, but was an entertaining read.
Stars: 3
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