Book four of five that I should have reviewed weeks ago…
Rachel Hawkins’s The Wife Upstairs follows a woman named Jane who has found her way into the upper-crust neighborhood of Thornfield Estates in Alabama as a dog-walker to the rich and occasionally famous. One day she bumps into the neighborhood’s most eligible bachelor/widower, Eddie Rochester. He is recovering from his wife, Bea’s mysterious death.
Soon, Jane is walking Eddie’s dog. And staying in Eddie’s house. And wearing an engagement ring. The only problem is – Jane isn’t who she says she is.
Her former roommate blackmails her and tries to destroy her relationship with the wealthy, Eddie. And Jane is desperately trying to hold onto her newfound power and status.
Bea is the owner and creator of a lifestyle brand called “Southern Manors” which is why Eddie set his sights on her. You see, he’s not who he says he is either. After Bea’s death, Eddie takes responsibility for Souther Manors and his own business. But meeting Jane makes him think it might be time to simplify.
In the meantime, we are also reading entries from Eddie’s wife, Bea’s journal. However, the journal starts after the accident.
Over the course of the few months that Jane and Eddie are together, she learns some disturbing things about Eddie, Bea, and their lives together.
This one is fun, and I especially appreciated the nod toward Jane Eyre. All the characters are here – Jane, Mr. Rochester, and even Adele (a child in Jane Eyre, a dog in this iteration).
Overall, I would recommend this as a fun afternoon read. It’s another one I read quickly over the Thanksgiving holiday, and it was nearly impossible for me to put it down.
