May Cobb

"[A] sharply observed thriller."--Pop Sugar Sultry, salacious and utterly unpredictable....You'll devour it.--Riley Sager, New York Times bestselling author of Home Before Dark The Hunting Wives share more than target practice, martinis, and bad behavior in this novel of obsession, seduction, and murder. Sophie O'Neill left behind an envy-inspiring career and the stressful, competitive life of big-city Chicago to settle down with her husband and young son in a small Texas town. It seems like the perfect life with a beautiful home in an idyllic rural community. But Sophie soon realizes that life is now too quiet, and she's feeling bored and restless. Then she meets Margot Banks, an alluring socialite who is part of an elite clique secretly known as the Hunting Wives. Sophie finds herself completely drawn to Margot and swept into her mysterious world of late-night target practice and dangerous partying. As Sophie's curiosity gives way to full-blown obsession, she slips farther away from the safety of her family and deeper into this nest of vipers. When the body of a teenage girl is discovered in the woods where the Hunting Wives meet, Sophie finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation and her life spiraling out of control.

The Hunting Wives

Kendall McClain

lexie

this a good book, i like reading middle aged women being a bitch to each other then kill each other and then framed one another

Lara Engle

This book was a page turner, but I'm not sure why. The main character is somehow terribly naive and incredibly deceptive at the same time. She's obsessed with these terrible people for no apparent reason. Then she makes terrible decisions when she's with them. And EVERYONE drinks way too much alcohol. They're using booze to cope with an astoundingly privileged everyday life and no one seems to notice. Then they drive all over as if several glasses of wine plus some shots and perhaps some martinis or margaritas is nothing. Oh, and you know, a character is drugged then engages in extra-marital sexual activity ... and then hides it. No one seems to notice that that's assault, not an affair. Also, 35-40 year old women getting involved with high school boys is gross and wrong.

The more I write here, the more I wish I hadn't read this. Don't waste your time.

Veronica Rivera

Definitely a page turner, builds up great but the closing kills the excitement, it’s predictable and doesn’t live up to the exciting story.

Kristen Claiborn

** spoiler alert **
           This book was the adult version of Mean Girls (loved that movie). Sophie wanted nothing more than to be included by the in-squad, so she turned herself into a pseudo-stalker and manage to finagle an invitation to a girls’ night that included too much alcohol, firearms, and copious amounts of infidelity. Sometimes with teens…so that’s already an ill-advised combination of vices. Throw in envy, jealousy, and cruel intentions and there are clearly going to be dead bodies in the wake. This whodunit left me scratching my head; I really couldn’t figure out who did what. Kudos to Cobb for keeping me on my toes the entire time. Cobb left the husbands out of the story SO much, it was hard to assume that one of them wasn’t involved, because that’s the tactic most authors take. Then it was hard to assume each of the women did it…or didn’t do it…then I got to the end and it all made sense and I felt pretty stupid. Well done May Cobb!!!
	I did find it interesting that I don’t remember seeing Sophie mentioned by name until page 64…that was odd. During the party when she met the clique, they all introduced themselves, so we met the general cast of characters, but Sophie didn’t introduce herself by name. Unless I missed it, which is possible. I appreciated that Cobb clarified the age of the boys, that made it a little less icky (still pretty icky though). Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, especially as the book progressed. I recommend!

Didn't love the ending, but overall it gave off a similar vibe as 

Julia Kane

Didn't love the ending, but overall it gave off a similar vibe as The Last Mrs. Parrish

Cheri McElroy

One of the most appalling things I have read. There are themes in here that should never be glorified.

Victoria Alexandra 

** spoiler alert **
           This book had the potential to be at least a 4 star rating but I cannot get past the sexual relationship of a 30-40 year old woman and a high school boy. It was just gross and cringy.

Elizabeth Hagenlocher

** spoiler alert **
           Nothing makes me read faster than rage, I suppose. This book was bad…like really bad. And not just because I’m not in the target demographic. 

There’s a way to write characters you “love to hate,” and this was not it. No one in the book had a single redeeming quality—just alcoholics with poor decision making skills and no personality. 

Seriously, the first 200 pages of this “thriller” are filled with Sophie’s unexciting day to day life. She drinks a latte every five pages, spends all her time gardening and cooking, and yet somehow manages to drink on an empty stomach every night. Never mind the fact that we have to read about how she scrolls through Facebook and hits “like” or doesn’t. I didn’t think it could be any more mind numbing. (Oh, and Sophie “trolls” Margot’s profile. That’s not even remotely the correct term 🥴)

THEN, of course, we get to the real drama. And that drama is, apparently, that grown women are sleeping with teenagers. Spoiler alert: if you have to Google the age of consent, they’re too young for you. They’re high schoolers. And it’s not just in passing, ITS THE WHOLE PLOT. And it’s really uncomfortable how it unfolds, too. It’s not sexy in the slightest, and weirdly enough the high schoolers radiate “rapey” vibes. It would have been best to just have avoided the whole plot point—they could have been college students and it would have at least not felt predatory. 

For people describing the sex with children as SEXY….straight to jail, ya nasties. 

Anyway, the last half of the book definitely sucked less. Things actually happened, which was a shocker.

Overall, it felt like a poorly written book with too many recycled details. I should have made it a drinking game for categories such as: lattes, using the word soused, mentioning the Highlander, talking about Margot’s legs, describing the setting sun as a fruit, drinking on an empty stomach, roofies for no reason, and checking Facebook. But then I’d be dead too…and this time it would be Sophie’s fault. 

I went into this book genuinely thinking I’d enjoy it. The premise sounded fun, but ultimately I spent the book rolling my eyes or wanting to yeet it into Mount Doom. But I’m trying to finish what I start. BOTM rarely fails me…but hey, nobody’s perfect.

kendall p

Kerry Kalinoski

I really thought this was a regular old thriller but turns out the first half is like a low key 50 shades🥴 not my vibe but the storyline was really good and I was shocked at the ending!

Maria Janush

** spoiler alert **
           SPOILERS AHEAD. 

very fast paced. page turner.... but at what cost? none of these characters had redeeming qualities and continuously made conscious choices that ruined their lives. the sexual relationships with minors were so gross & the high school age of the boys was so unnecessary to the story... why couldn’t they cheat with fratty boys from a local college? the age difference would still weird but less predatory and illegal. i didn’t really like or root for any of these characters throughout so i only finished the book bc it was so fast paced that it wasn’t going to cost me much time. would not recommend to a friend

Magda Silva

Was I expecting the dead person t be who it is? No. Was I a fan of it? Kinda no. Did I liked the next twist? Yeap. And the next one? Yeah. The prime suspect by the police? Kinda obvious. The actual murder? Didn't saw it coming but it was an obvious option

Overall, I really liked it. There was just something lacking in the end and for it to be a 5 star

Juhi 

Ridiculous, far fetched, too many plot holes and a main character who makes terrible decisions after repeatedly stating “never again” in some form or fashion. Like…where’s the character growth at? If you’re looking to see how many different ways a writer can describe a group of vapid rich women who cheat on their husbands, this is your book.

Suz Corso

I tore through this in three days. Such an unexpected ending and the story really kept my on my toes

Jaylene Guerra

** spoiler alert **
           While I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the plot twists that I honestly did not predict, it cannot get 5 stars from me for a few reasons. The fact that this had so much not necessarily “encouraged” cheating but also not exactly frowned upon was something that I couldn’t get past at points and it was a huge factor of this book. This was also somewhat marketed to me as a huge mystery novel and I felt that it took at least half of the book to get to the actual murder and start of the mystery. The first half was all just story, which I enjoyed but was expecting more mystery sooner I guess. That being said, I did not expect the plot twist and was certain I knew who it was (I was wrong). I do wish the story ended a couple months after and answered whether or not she ends up back with her husband or what comes of her life after more than just 2 months.

Caitlin Snyder

3.5 rounded up

(+) This is a great thriller! It was definitely a page turner that reminded me alot of Desperate Housewives.

(-) I hated all the characters (although they were described great & written well - I just don't necessarily enjoy books with unlikable narrators).

Michelle Miller

Did not like the MC, she drove me crazy. Decent book though, 3 stars for the twist

Kristina Masone

Despite seeing the ending a mile away, I still found this book absolutely fun.

Anna Wilson

I’m feeling kinda meh about this book. 

Here’s what I liked:
-short chapters.
-fast paced.
-southern small town lake town vibes 
-the draaaaammaaa 

What I didn’t like:
-the 17 yr old having a relationship with his moms friend? (YUCK 🤢) 
-our main character, what are you doing?? You got drugged TWICE, literally the same thing happened to you. I don’t understand. Her reactions to the things happening to her where soooo unrealistic in my opinion. It was very frustrating! 

Overall! If you want to be entertained with small town dramas, fast paced chapters, and dumb main characters then check this book out. Otherwise, I think it’s pretty average and I’m gonna be forgetting main plot lines pretty soon 🙈


https://www.instagram.com/p/CRZ800ZLA...

Samantha King

3.5 stars rounded up.

So this book starts of kind of slow and then almost 200 pages in something happens. From that moment there are a lot of twists and bombs that get thrown at you. Your left Questioning who killed this person who was found shot dead.

The beginning
All though it's slow I was intrigued by our main character Sophie and the Hunting Wives. Four other woman who get together but keep this a secret from everyone other than those in their group.
It had a mean girls vibes to it just older.
Sophie our main character definitely wasn't perfectly and could be slightly frustrating but that's not a bad thing sometimes it's good to read a character who is flawed.

Once the murder happened Sophie finds herself in deep and doesn't know how to get out of. There were a lot of twists and turns and the ending was done really well.

The author built up the story perfectly. 
My only criticism is Sophie was so gullible and made these mistakes that were frustrating as he'll.
Survey Survey knew this would make things worse but nope Sophie went right ahead and this it anyway.

However that being said I think it was done well, the character were all unique and interesting and it kept me guessing.althpugh I did suspect who did it but kept having my mind swayed.

One thing I will say is this book never felt like a thriller to me. I don't know if it supposed be labelled as a thriller I've heard other say it is.
But I do think there were some scenes not needed
And like I said above our main character was flawed but there were points she just annoyed me.
I really enjoyed this book, it was really good but not excellent or amazing.

Kayla Smith

What the heck was this book? I'll be honest, it drew me in almost immediately. The writing style worked for me, I enjoyed the setup, and I felt unsettled by our main character's (Sophie) obsession with another woman in her neighborhood. But by the end, I just found myself constantly rolling my eyes at everything Sophie kept doing. She kept making the same mistakes over and over again and the final twist just felt rushed and unbelievable. Wasn't for me which is a bummer because I love the cover and wanted to keep this book on my shelves.

Malin Alexander

1.5 stars - mostly hated the main character and how slow everything was, but I guess the ending was eventful enough...

The Hunting Wives

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