Didn't blow me away, but it is GOOD

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5

Here is the nitty-gritty truth - The First Mistake by Sandie Jones is a solid book that I really enjoyed, but it didn't blow me away near as much as a lot of other readers.

What it's about: After Alice's husband Tom died, she was torn apart and left with a small child on her own. So she was ecstatic when, a short time later, she meets her current husband Nathan and falls in love. Now life is good again; she has 2 girls, a happy marriage, a beautiful home, and a thriving business. She also has a best friend named Beth whom she instantly connected with when she moved her daughter Millie to the same school as Alice's daughter Olivia. But when Nathan starts doing suspicious disappearing acts, Alice starts to wonder just how solid her marriage actually is. She turns to Beth for support, but just might find out more than she bargained for.

I wanted to be really vague in my summery because the synopsis to the book is vague, with very good reason. Saying too much would definitely spoil this one which of course I don't want to do. There are a lot of twists in The First Mistake, and while some people will figure them out, I was not one of those people. I just wish there had been a little bit MORE of a wow factor. I can't really pinpoint why I was slightly disappointed, but there was just something about the end that left me wanting more.

That being said, this was a gripping novel that had me devouring it as fast as I could. While it still took me 4 hours and 36 minutes that is pretty dang quick for me so that should say something. I haven't read her first book, The Other Woman, but I definitely want to, and I've heard it's amazing, even more amazing than The First Mistake.

As far as the characters go, Alice and Beth were a bit of a struggle for me at first, but by the end of the book I started to like Alice a lot more. At first it seems like this is going to be one of those books where the women don't stand up for themselves and go along with a man, but towards the end is full on girl power/women standing up for themselves which I absolutely loved.

Song/s the book brought to mind: 18 Wheeler by Pink

Final Thought: If you are looking for a quick, twisty read then I recommend reading The First Mistake. I know it didn't blow me away, but I am definitely still going to be recommending this to everyone since it's not boring, addictive, and most people will truly love it. I seem to be getting a little burnt out on thrillers lately (I haven't really loved anything lately except Some Choose Darkness), so take this with a grain of salt. Either way, I am for sure an instant Sandie Jones fan!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book via Bookish First!