The Wife Upstairs: A Novel

Written by Rachel Hawkins

Narrated by Emily Shaffer, Kirby Heyborne and Lauren Fortgang

Instant New York Times and USA Today Bestseller

“Compulsively readable...a gothic thriller laced with arsenic.” ––EW

One of the Most Anticipated Books of 2021: CNN • Newsweek • Vulture • PopSugar • Parade • BuzzFeed • E!Online • TimeOut • Woman's Day • Goodreads • She Reads • Good Housekeeping • CrimeReads • Frolic • Hello! • Mystery and Suspense

January 2021 Indie Next Pick and #1 LibraryReads Pick

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?

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press

“A compulsively readable tale that flips Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre on its head…a gothic thriller laced with arsenic.” -- EW

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Jan 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9781250752451

Rachel Hawkins

Rachel Hawkins is the New York Times bestselling author of The Wife Upstairs, Reckless Girls, The Villa, The Heiress, and The Storm as well as multiple books for young readers. Her work has been translated into over a dozen languages. She studied gender and sexuality in Victorian literature at Auburn University and currently lives in Alabama.

Reviews for The Wife Upstairs

[Leslie Cohen · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fun, easy reading. I enjoyed the satirical aspects best, and preferred the parts that reflected the original novel.

[Lindsay Marshall · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This book was ridiculous, the narrators were not good, it was so hard to listen to. There were too many f-bobs, vapid characters with no depth. felt like a high schooler wrote it. I didn’t like any of the characters - just so ridiculous. don’t waste any of your precious life listening to this garbage.

[Maria Ramon · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked it . I never read a book where I hated so many characters lol.. but it worked.

[ana2theresa · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Characters are completely unbelievable. The main character, Jane, is annoying, unlikable and uncomplex. The book is trying so hard to be suspenseful but comes out very very flat. The readers were terribly annoying.

[bbooggiiee23bbrryy · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

AWFUL AWFUL ENDING. WAS FUNNY AT TIMES BUT VERY VERY DISAPPOINTED

[Gina Laza Rains · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Awesome book. However, the language was a bit much and added nothing to the story.

[Beth Tidwell · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I just didn’t really feel the suspense or thriller in this book. It was pretty hard to get through. I felt like even up to the very end I was waiting for it to get better.

[Jon N Lydia Harris · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this as a modern retelling of Jane Eyre, there were a lot of changes to the characters but you can see where the structure of the old story was used.And who’s to say that Jane wouldn’t have been rougher around the edges and more street smart if the story took place now? Loved the twist and how it leaves things.

[Kerr Howell · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Twist and turns. You past will surface eventually. A page turner!

[v · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Test test test test test test test test test test

[Shaina Perkkio · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This audio skips in a handful of spots so make sure you have the physical copy to fill in the gaps!

[Mallory Cosby · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book was predictable and incredibly disappointing. Does not live up to the hype.

[Yolanda Sodari · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Pretty good book. Didn’t expect the ending. I expected more though, but overall good.

[Patricia Cruz · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Suburban thriller at it's best. Fucked up characters, unreliable narratives, crazy twists. Amazing!!! 4.5 stars

[arzu gungor · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Narrators voice is very annoying. Made me hate the book

[Daria Ackerman · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Kinda wish to be Jane in the end. ? supper unrealistic though

[andrea · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great! It had me hooked within the first 20 minutes!

[Nicole Meiklejohn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed the story. I feel I would have preferred to read that, rather than be read to. The character voices took a while for me to understand (I usually listen to audiobooks) who was who. The main narrator sounded like Siri reading and I couldn’t take the character seriously.

[Marta Em · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

It might have been a new version of the Jane Eyre story but it was just boring, predictable and I didn't like any of the annoying characters.

[Anita · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great book, but could have done without some of the profanity.

[Kallie Youngberg · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

It wasn’t the worse, but I wasn’t interested for more than a handful of chapters near the end. It build up the story so much and then it’s like it was just over. ??‍♀️ I’m not sure that I would recommend against it, I just would recommend other thrillers before this one. ❤️

[Kandace Simpson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was well read and well written. I love the twists and turns! I almost didn’t listen because of all the negative comments about the narrator. I saw no problem. One if the best narrators by far!

[debbie karambowich · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was an interesting modern take on a classic. Overall I liked it and it was a good suspenseful quick read.

[Blair Reyes · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book was not particularly thrilling, but I was entertained.

[Jessica January · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Loved the reader, good plot line. Characters are a little bland though.

[Rebecca Byrne · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

4.5 stars...
Twice I thought I had the plot figured out...twice I was wrong! I really enjoyed the characters in this one. It’s my first book by this author and I’ve already put a few more in my TBR!

Fast paced and engaging, even funny at times. This tale follows multiple timelines and events, jumping back and forth to weave the perfect mystery.

The *only* thing I was slightly disappointed in is that one of the built up dramas wasn’t as big as it probably should have been to really knock it out of the park. Otherwise it was highly entertaining!

[krista b · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Captivating and surprising the whole way through! I couldn’t put it down and didn’t see the ending coming! Excellent read!

[Szabó Anna · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I gave up at 33% because I couldn’t go on any longer.
I so love the original Jane Eyre and loved a retelling or two but this…Jane made me want to scream in rage and Eddie, well he didn’t even make me feel that.
The only character that I liked and made any sense was their dog.

[Marianne Griffes · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love this book. I actually found it quite surprising the end did not end up being what I really anticipated good rate I’ll read more of these books by this author

[Selina Cooper · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well, there must have been something good about this book as it kept me listening all the way to the end! The main narrator was so awful she was good! Silly story, but somehow oddly addictive!! ?