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To His New Wife

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His ex sent me a letter. I thought she was dead.

When Emma married Benjamin, her life came as close to perfect as someone like her ever could have dreamed. No longer just working for his father, she was part of the family. Helping Benjamin move on from the tragic loss of his first wife hasn’t always been easy – tears, anniversaries, photos of her everywhere – but it brought them closer together, even if his daughter still spends all her time shut up in her room.

But then the first letter arrives at Emma’s desk at work. A pristine white envelope with flawless calligraphy inside.

To Benjamin’s new wife,

With love from,

The wife he killed…

An addictive, jaw-dropping psychological thriller from multi-million-copy bestseller Willow Rose. For fans of Tess Gerritsen, Freida McFadden and Jeneva Rose.

What readers are saying about To His New Wife:

Wow wow wow!!!! Didn’t expect them twists to blow me away!!!!! My heart is still pounding!!!! This book had me hooked honestly couldn’t put it down. Thought I had it all worked out but I was completely wrong! Fantastic!!!!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book has bestseller written all over it. I had to remind myself to breathe as packed a punch and kept me breathless from beginning to end! I finished it within 24 hours… The twists, turns were at full-throttle lightening speed it just kept going and going it never slowed down I absolutely loved it!A massive 5 sparkling stars!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book is going to be huge on Booktok, mark my words! From the very first page, I was hooked. It really has it all… I went whaaaaaaaaaaat!!!?? my jaw dropped. An absolute 5-star read!!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wow wow wow… I could not put it down and have spent the afternoon shushing everybody to allow me to read in peace!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wow… An incredible thriller. I could not stop reading… Perfect… So gripping.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wild!! If I could just use one word to describe this book, it would be wild! So many twists and turns that you just can’t put this book down!!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wow! Just wow!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“What a prologue… Wow!… The twists just kept coming left and right. Definitely add this to your TBR… I will be recommending [this] to everyone!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Amazing!… Hooked me within the first two sentences. If you are looking for something that you want to read in a day and not be able to put down this book is for you.

314 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 12, 2026

1757 people are currently reading
600 people want to read

About the author

Willow Rose

236 books2,744 followers
Willow Rose is a multi-million-copy best-selling Author and an Amazon ALL-star Author of more than 100 novels.

Several of her books have reached the top 10 of ALL books on Amazon in the US, UK, and Canada. She has sold more than three million books all over the world.

She writes Mystery, Thriller, Paranormal, Romance, Suspense, Horror, Supernatural thrillers, and Fantasy.

Willow's books are fast-paced, nail-biting pageturners with twists you won't see coming. That's why her fans call her The Queen of Scream.

Willow lives on Florida's Space Coast. When she is not writing or reading, you will find her surfing and watch the dolphins play in the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.



Connect with Willow online:

http://www.facebook.com/willowredrose
https://twitter.com/madamwillowrose
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/willo...

Sign up for Willow's VIP email list, and you'll automatically be notified as soon as her next book is released: www.willow-rose.net

Inbox already stuffed? Send the word: “ebooks” to 31996 to get a text alert with news about new releases, giveaways, and bargains from Willow.

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5 stars
365 (42%)
4 stars
335 (38%)
3 stars
121 (14%)
2 stars
29 (3%)
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9 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
Profile Image for April.
702 reviews197 followers
February 22, 2026
This one started out with a bang and held my interest the entire story! The fact that Willow Rose kept us in suspense for so long was an experience in itself! Every time I thought I figured out who the culprit truly was, something happens that made me quickly doubt myself! The story took many turns before the big reveal and it was definitely worth the wait! Overall a great domestic thriller that makes me want to dig more into this author’s catalog! Thank you NetGalley & Bookouture for an advanced reader copy.

Publication 🗓️ : 02.12.26

Professional Reader200 Book Reviews
Profile Image for Judy Collins.
3,332 reviews452 followers
February 18, 2026
In TO HIS NEW WIFE, Willow Rose delivers a clever twisty psychological thriller following Emma, who marries surgeon Benjamin after the tragic death of his first wife, Alice. The plot thickens when Emma receives threatening letters at work signed by the deceased's first wife, suggesting Benjamin killed her.

With intensity, suspense, misdirection, and unreliable narrators, Emma's rising paranoia and tense relationship with Benjamin’s distant daughter begin unraveling the "perfect" facade they convey.  

Highlights...

The Perfect Marriage: 
Emma believes she has found her dream life with Benjamin, a successful surgeon.

The Haunting Letters: 
Emma receives letters from "the wife he killed" (Alice), causing her to question if Alice is actually dead.

The Daughter: 
Lily, Benjamin's daughter, is troubled, stays in her room, and adds tension to the new marriage.

The Suspicion: 
Focusing on the psychological toll of the letters, questioning whether Benjamin is a loving husband or a murderer.

The Reveal: 
A fast-paced thriller with surprising twists. 


My thoughts...

The overarching takeaway of TO HIS NEW WIFE is a chilling exploration of the illusion of safety and the dangers of ignoring one's intuition in the pursuit of a "perfect" life. 

Emma's life turns into a domestic nightmare, revealing the dark secrets hidden behind a successful facade. Like many of Willow Rose's works, the characters are often shrouded in deceit, making it difficult for the reader to know who to trust with an unreliable narrator. While the plot moves quickly, it artfully builds psychological tension through the gradual arrival of mysterious letters.

As more letters arrive, Emma's life begins to unravel with escalating paranoia. She begins doubting everyone around her, including her husband and his parents, who are portrayed as unreliable and unsettling.

Emma also struggles with her new role as a stepmother to Lily, who remains distant and shut away in her room, adding to the claustrophobic atmosphere of the household and family relations.

The narrative unfolds through multiple points of view, offering different "sides of the story" that add depth to the mystery, keeping readers guessing about who is truly responsible for the letters.

Rose infuses contemporary themes like TikTok and crime bloggers as Emma tries to uncover the truth behind the sinister letters. The inclusion of these devices reflect a modern theme of how public interest and digital media intersect with private tragedies.

The author cleverly explores several dark and complex themes in this gripping psychological thriller:

~The Fragility of the "Perfect Life."
~Grief and Haunting Memories
~Paranoia and Distrust
~Family Loyalty vs. Self-Preservation
~Identity and Secrets
~Modern Social Obsession

The plot is unraveled from the letters from a "dead" wife—highlighting how past actions and traumas inevitably resurface. It reflects a recurring message in Rose’s thrillers: the truth has a way of outrunning those who try to bury it.

The book illustrates how a "perfect" life can quickly become a claustrophobic nightmare. By the end, readers are left with the unsettling realization that you can never truly know the person you are sleeping next to, and a jaw-dropping final double twist!

Recs...

If you enjoyed the "perfect marriage turned dark" themes and shocking twists of To His New Wife, several other domestic psychological thrillers offer similar high-stakes tension and unexpected reveals.

~The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
~The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose
~Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris
~The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
~My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing

Special thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Pub Date: Feb 12, 2026
Feb Newsletter
800 reviews9 followers
March 3, 2026
she has done it again!

Willow has come up with another gem! I don't know if this is the start of a new series, but she definitely has left it open for continuing. The new wife, her new family, everything is looking up. Sometimes we have to be careful what we wish for. The perfect husband, the perfect new daughter, the perfect new life. What will bring it crashing down. For starters, how about letters from the grave! If this doesn't intrigue your curiosity, nothing will. You definitely need to pick up this book. Once you pick it up, you won't put it down! Find out how the perfect family falls completely apart! Even when you know who did it, Willow weaves enough twist and turns to keep you hooked!
Profile Image for Mady Cox.
159 reviews14 followers
March 9, 2026
3.5- feel like the story was going in the same circle over and over but was overall a fine thriller
Profile Image for MissAllieReads.
141 reviews11 followers
February 7, 2026
”Be careful, New Wife. The flowers will stop coming. The warmth will fade. And if you try to leave him, remember: I tried too.”

When Emma married Benjamin, it seemed like a “perfect” life or so it seemed — her successful career in the family firm and Benjamin a successful surgeon. But cracks will reveal secrets ready to be uncovered.

What happened when a letter arrives to Emma’s desk at work with neat handwriting from Alice Stone, the ex-wife of Benjamin Stone, who mysteriously died 5 years ago.


”To Benjamin’s new wife, with love from the wife he killed.”

Emma will soon discover that nothing is as it seems. Can she trust her husband? What about her step-daughter Lily trying to make her life hell. Find out February 12, 2026.


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love a good thriller and this was everything I hoped for in a thriller. The twist and turns to that ending I didn’t imagine it would turn out like that. I did channel my inner sleuth along the way of this read and it definitely got me hooked!

I’m still in shock about that ending but an ending I was happy with the outcome.

Thank you to Willow Rose, Bookouture, and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this e-arc in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions remain my own.
Profile Image for Diane Elizabeth Taylor.
358 reviews13 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 1, 2026
Perfect Life, Perfect Lies!
I devoured this book! Willow Rose never disappoints.
From the very first page, this thriller grabbed me and didn't let go.
Emma’s "perfect" life as successful career woman in the family firm, new wife and stepmother begins to disintegrate when sinister letters arrive from charming husband's Ben’s late wife. ​
Rose brilliantly captures Emma’s spiralling paranoia as her carefully constructed world turns into a claustrophobic nightmare.
I felt her desperation and doubt in every chapter and I truly didn't know who to trust as Emma tried to balance family loyalty with escalating doubts.
With relatable characters, twists and turns galore, and a perfectly executed ending tied up as neatly as a boxed up charm necklace wrapped in a bow, this dark domestic thriller is an absolute must-read.
My thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for an early copy. This is my own opinion.
Release date 12 February.
Profile Image for Linda Joseph.
Author 1 book7 followers
February 9, 2026
3.5 ⭐️

I got this as an ARC from NetGalley and Bookotour so thank you for letting me have the chance to review this early! This was a fun read, loved the concept! I am a sucker for mysterious letters showing up and coming from your husband dead ex wife sign me up!! This started off so good and had me gripped it did feel a bit dragged out with nothing happening Jo progression to the story for a tad bit in the middle. I love being gaslit so this book did a great job with that. Kept you rooting for the main character wanting her justice. I had a great time with this read you kinda knew what was coming what to expect it was more like you were waiting for when it would happen. It was a fun read none the less! But nothing with crazy unpredictable twists!
Profile Image for Cin (cinsnextchapter).
226 reviews3 followers
January 31, 2026
To His New Wife had me hooked from the very first chapter! I found myself sitting there with my mouth wide open more times than I can count. The suspense is relentless, and just when I thought I had a handle on where the story was going, another twist threw me for a loop.

I loved how the story wrapped up. The ending felt satisfying after all the chaos that came before it. This is a fast-paced, twisty thriller that delivers exactly what it promises. Five stars!
Profile Image for Janilyn Kocher.
5,204 reviews118 followers
Read
February 12, 2026
I didn’t know who was duping who.
Emma has the man of her dreams but has she instead just married a nightmare?
Messages from the deceased first wife push her off her game.
I kept yelling at her to focus and reveal the letters.
I missed the mark as to who was behind it. Guess my brain was at the beach instead of figuring out who had it in for Emma.
Unexpected events raised my eyebrows and made this a really good story!
Thanks Bookouture and NetGalley for the advance copy.
Profile Image for Diane Merritt.
977 reviews200 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 14, 2026
Crazy wild ride. Not knowing if the old wife is dead or alive, who's writing letters. Your head is spinning, you are spiraling losing your mind, who can you trust.
I love this book. Fast paced. Great characters.

Thanks to the author the publisher and Netgalley for a early release of this book.
Profile Image for Beth Boulton.
56 reviews2 followers
February 20, 2026
✨ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ✨

To His New Wife by Willow Rose is a quietly chilling domestic thriller that thrives on atmosphere and secrets. A single letter sparks mounting unease, and the slow unravelling of Emma’s seemingly perfect life is gripping and tense. While some twists felt familiar, the execution kept me turning pages ✉️

Thank you to Bookouture for the ARC opportunity via NetGalley 📖
Profile Image for Jessica.
267 reviews11 followers
January 6, 2026
Wow wow wow!!!! Didn’t expect them twists to blow me away!!!!! My heart is still pounding!!!!
Profile Image for Maria.
142 reviews
February 21, 2026
למרות שהספר לא ארוך, עדיין מרגיש שלא קרה בו כלום והמעט שקרה בו כל כך לא אפוי עד הסוף.
דמויות שטוחות ממש, סיפור מוזר שמרגיש שלא חשבו עליו עד הסוף.
Profile Image for Barb.
1,554 reviews39 followers
February 23, 2026
Another good book by Willow Rose. Heart pounding book.
Profile Image for Laura Smith.
577 reviews24 followers
February 24, 2026
TO HIS NEW WIFE BY WILLOW ROSE.
4 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s
Great cover.
I do love a prologue that keeps me eager to jump into the rest of the book.
I think this is my first book by this autho
Profile Image for Caroline.
26 reviews
March 10, 2026
Just saying one surgeon wouldn’t be doing cleft palate repairs and heart surgeries… That’s plastics vs. cardiothoracics
Profile Image for Jackie.
214 reviews5 followers
January 13, 2026

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
To His New Wife by Willow Rose is a fast-paced, twisty psychological thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. The story is immediately intriguing, and wastes no time pulling you into a web of secrets, suspicion, and uneasy tension.

I really enjoyed the steady buildup of suspense and the way Rose plays with trust and perception.. just when I thought I had things figured out, another reveal shifted the ground. The short chapters and sharp pacing made this a quick, compulsive read, perfect for fans of domestic thrillers.

If you’re looking for an engaging, easy-to-binge thriller with plenty of secrets and surprises, To His New Wife is definitely worth the read.
Profile Image for Lauren DiGi.
145 reviews
March 2, 2026
3.5 ✩ definitely kept me guessing. i’d like to check out more books by the author. i hate being left with questions thoooooo
Profile Image for Corinne.
857 reviews21 followers
February 22, 2026

Ive loved Willow Rose’s reads in the past but the last couple I’ve going hit and miss and this is another one. I felt it was very predictable, drawn out and just lacked the page turning suspense. I liked the majority of the characters well enough but some not so much. I could see the outcome a mile off and when it took so long to get there I kind of lost interest. This one didn’t live up to my expectations unfortunately.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review #tohisnewwife
Profile Image for Debra .
3,318 reviews36.6k followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 5, 2026
Gripping, dark, twisted, menacing, suspenseful, and shocking! To His New Wife proved to be a fast and thrilling read which kept me guessing and turning the pages! Just when I thought I had things figured out, Willow Rose threw another zinger into the mix, and I was left rethinking my list of suspects!

Emma thought she had her happily ever after when she married Benjamin. She is welcomed into his family and works for Benjamin's father. Benjamin and his daughter lost his first wife tragically. But Emma is hoping to help them pick up the pieces. Then a note arrives! A note that appears to come from his first wife claiming that Benjamin killed her!!!! Emma is naturally shocked, full of questions, and left feeling uneasy after receiving such a note. What really happened to his first wife? Who is behind the letters? Who can be trusted?

I thought Willow Rose did a great job of inserting doubt and fear into To His New Wife. I felt for Emma and her trepidation and fear jumped from the pages. Emma doesn't know who is sending the notes, but they are getting under her skin. I thought this was depicted wonderfully in this book. Is his first wife dead or is she alive? If she is dead, why is someone sending the letters? So many questions swirled in my head while reading this book.

I found this book to be an entertaining and suspenseful page turner which kept me guessing. I loved the tension and suspense. I also enjoyed the sense of unease and impending danger. Like Emma, I never knew who could be trusted in this book. This is the second book I have read by Willow Rose, and I look forward to reading more of her books.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖

Profile Image for Els .
2,303 reviews54 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 23, 2026
Sometimes you meet someone you’re attracted to, but unfortunately that person already has a ring on their finger. Some people wouldn’t let that stop them and, under the motto of “egoism at its peak,” would go all in. Others know their place, stay in the background, and show respect.

But life sometimes takes strange twists, and due to tragic circumstances, a golden future is suddenly placed in your lap. The man who was once unreachable is now your husband, and you will do everything in your power to support him and his daughter. You never want to take Alice’s place, but you do want to be there for them—always.

And then the first letter arrives…

It turns Emma’s life completely upside down, and she decides to find out who is behind it and whether the letters are filled with lies or with truth. I probably don’t need to add that she’s about to step into a hornet’s nest…

I did have a suspicion about who might be behind a dark little scheme, but I can already reveal that I was completely wrong. Maybe that’s because in one of the previous books I read, there was a character with the same name as one of the characters here—and I thought, well, that villain again? LOL. Of course, that’s not how it works, but it could have been.

Appearances can be deceiving, and that’s proven once again here. And it works both ways. A charmer can turn out to be a bully, while someone who seems sly and sneaky may end up being your greatest ally.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and savored every moment of it. I have to admit that the carefully crafted schemes were very cleverly put together—and that’s something I truly appreciate. This book simply had everything I love: fantastic characters, manipulation, tension, and some solid twists.

That’s why I’m happy to give it five stars.

Thank you
Profile Image for Susan McAulay.
495 reviews14 followers
February 14, 2026
This is my first book from this author with a very provocative name and it will not be my last. This was the first psychological thriller that I have read in a while that gripped me from beginning to end. Most of what I have been reading lately has been either formulaic or has tried too hard to be “different.” This thriller grabs the reader at the beginning when the protagonist receives a letter purporting to be from her husband’s dead wife. At the beginning, I wondered if this was a novel about the paranormal.
As with most books of this genre, there is no shortage of possible suspects. However, what I think this author does well is not just the suspense (I am not the best at determining whodunit so I am not the most reliable for advising other readers as to whether one is kept guessing throughout) but examining the head of the protagonist and feeling what she is feeling, whether it is horror, anger, or fear. The daughter was also explored significantly as well. I think the one character that could have been better developed was the husband. He was the character that was least likeable which is fine (every book needs someone to hate) but he was also the flattest. As with most books of this genre, it does fall into the trap of making someone the villain without nuance.
Nevertheless, things were not always what they appeared, a positive thing in a thriller. The author had readers questioning everything, including whether or not the protagonist committed the crime. There were twists and turns all the way through. In addition, the pacing is good. The author spends enough time helping us to understand the characters and plot without giving us too much time to become bored. I also appreciated that the book was straight forward and without gimmicks designed to make readers work too hard to understand the time line of the book (a pet peeve of mine). I look forward to Willow Rose’s next novel.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me access to this advanced readers’ copy. All of the opinions herein are my own. Four and half stars. (5 stars rounded to 4 1/2).
Profile Image for Desirae .
75 reviews4 followers
February 12, 2026
This is my fifth Willow Rose novel, and I always look forward to each new release.

Emma’s life feels almost too perfect after meeting Benjamin. He’s not only a successful pediatric surgeon, but also a devoted father to his daughter, Lily. Every morning, as Emma wakes beside him in their king-size bed, she marvels at how completely he seems to love her, especially after everything he’s been through since Lily’s mother died. Emma even believes she’s helped him move forward from that tragedy.

That perfect new life begins to crack when a chilling letter appears on Emma’s desk at work:
To Benjamin’s new wife,
With love from,
The wife he killed…

The novel unfolds entirely from Emma’s point of view, which is a refreshing change from Willow Rose’s usual structure and makes the story easy to follow and deeply immersive.

To His New Wife is an engaging, fast-paced thriller with short chapters that kept me turning the pages. The characters are well developed, and it’s impossible not to root for Emma as she becomes determined to uncover who is sending the letters and why.

The story is tense, suspenseful, and at times difficult to read due to some of the heavier trigger-warning topics. Still, you’ll want to keep reading to uncover the truth behind the letters and who is trying to destroy Emma’s new life. While I suspect the author is setting this book up for a sequel, I would have loved a more neatly wrapped-up ending.

Thank you to Willow Rose, Bookouture, and NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. Don’t miss “To His New Wife” when it releases on February 12, 2026.

Trigger warnings: car accident, domestic violence, murder, mental illness, grief.
1,300 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
February 9, 2026
4.5 stars rounded up to five.
Emma Caldwell was living the dream, she had a job that she loved at the prestigious Stone Advertising, a job that she was good at, a job where she was well respected, and to put the icing on the cake, she was now married to Margaret and Robert Stone's only son, widowed paediatric surgeon, Benjamin Stone. Everything should be perfect...........but was it ? Emma's seventeen year old stepdaughter, Lily, was the fly in the ointment, Lily resented her, lily would do anything to discredit her, Lily was clever and her father doted on her.......and then the letters came, letters signed by Ben's first wife, the wife who had been killed in a car accident, letters accusing Ben of murdering her.
Willow Rose draws the heightening tension through the pages as Emma's life starts to unravel stitch by stitch, the plot thickens, it twists and turns, who can Emma trust? can she trust anyone ? her life is barrelling out of control, who is writing the letters ? is Alice really dead ? could gentle Ben possibly be a killer ? did Lily hate her enough to destroy her ?
Emma starts digging, she must find the truth but as Emma digs, the hole gets bigger, she was out of her depth and sinking fast.
This is a well written psychological thriller, I did find it a bit slow in the middle but that didn't deter from my enjoyment, I read it in one sitting.
I received a free copy of this book and my review is voluntary.
Profile Image for Leanne.
959 reviews94 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 21, 2026
To His New Wife is one of those thrillers that grabs you by the collar from the very first chapter and refuses to let go. Emma thinks she’s stepped into the perfect life with Benjamin — charming surgeon, devoted father, grieving widower — until a single, chilling letter lands on her desk.

And that line? “With love from, the wife he killed…”
I actually had to stop and blink. His ex sent me a letter. I thought she was dead. That’s exactly the kind of twisty energy Willow Rose delivers throughout the entire book.

The story moves at a brisk, addictive pace, balancing domestic tension with that creeping sense that something is very, very wrong beneath Benjamin’s polished exterior. Emma is easy to root for, and watching her confidence unravel as the letters keep coming is both unsettling and deliciously suspenseful.

Rose knows how to layer doubt, suspicion, and dread without ever tipping her hand too early. Fans of Freida McFadden and Jeneva Rose will feel right at home — short chapters, sharp reveals, and a finale that lands with a satisfying jolt.

If you enjoy psychological thrillers that play with trust, obsession, and the secrets people bury to protect their perfect lives, this one is absolutely worth adding to your list. I devoured it in a single weekend.

With thanks to Willow Rose, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Profile Image for Robin Loves Reading.
2,948 reviews435 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 13, 2026
Emma is Benjamin’s second wife, and she has always known that marrying a widower means living in the shadow of another woman. What she doesn’t expect is for that shadow to start writing back.

When Emma begins receiving letters signed, “the wife he killed,” her world tilts on its axis. She had believed without question that Benjamin’s first wife died in a tragic accident. Benjamin is a respected surgeon, polished, admired, and seemingly beyond reproach. The idea that he could be capable of something darker feels impossible… and yet the letters keep coming. Each one chips away at Emma’s sense of safety, leaving her frightened, isolated, and unsure of whom to trust.

Emma’s position makes everything more complicated. She works for Benjamin’s father, which tightens the family web around her. Even within the walls of her own home, she must navigate the presence of Benjamin’s teenage daughter - a constant reminder of the woman who came before her. The emotional tension is thick, and Emma’s growing paranoia feels both justified and deeply unsettling.

What I appreciated most is how Willow Rose slowly tightens the screws. The dread builds in layers. Is Emma being manipulated? Is someone playing a cruel game? Or has she married a man whose carefully curated reputation hides something sinister? Just when you think you have a handle on where the story is heading, another doubt creeps in.

Willow Rose delivers another twisty psychological thriller that keeps you second-guessing until the very end. As the final twist begins to take shape, the tension becomes almost unbearable—in the best way. This is a story about trust, perception, and how quickly certainty can unravel.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this free ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Megansschapters.
27 reviews
March 1, 2026
5★ (arc)

*To His New Wife* by Willow Rose follows Emma, whose life seems perfect. She married the perfect husband, Benjamin—a successful surgeon and a devoted father to his daughter. She works for his family’s advertising agency. One day, her perfect life starts to crumble when a letter arrives at her work. A letter from Ben’s previous wife, Alice, who died in a car accident, with the text:
To Benjamin’s new wife, with love from the wife he killed…”

This is my first time reading a book by Willow Rose, and it will not be my last. I found the book hard to put down. The book starts off strong and immediately grabs your interest, and that doesn’t stop until the ending. You just want to keep reading. The writing is clear and easy to follow, and the pacing is good and keeps you hooked.

The characters are really well developed, and you see characters you love and characters you don’t love. The characters also have good character development, and I found them making normal decisions in high-tension situations. The ending did get crazy and shocked me multiple times, and I liked how the author ended her story.

Overall, this was a very addictive and twisty read that I would recommend to readers who love thrillers (especially readers who want to try out thrillers as a genre). Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Louise Allan.
385 reviews3 followers
January 11, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.

Emma is living the life of her dreams. Newly married to Ben, a child surgeon, after a whirlwind romance. She works for his family advertising agency and is a high flyer. Then the letter arrives. From Ben’s previous wife, Alice, who died in a car accident. Emma understandably becomes unsettled, making mistakes at work. And still the letters come. They accuse Ben of abuse and killing Alice. As Emma starts to investigate, things start to go wrong for Ben, with an internet accusation claiming to have evidence of his guilt..

Wow wow wow. This starts slowly but all of a sudden the pace is explosive and you are fighting to survive with Emma. At that point I could not put it down and have spent the afternoon shushing everybody to allow me to read in peace! . The detail in the letters she receives is chilling and sent a shiver down my back. The author had me convinced of one truth and then the complete shifts and twists in the tale were powerful and shocking.

The characters were very strong and caused strong emotions in me. Belief in Emma and dislike for her in-laws Robert and Margaret.

I have previously enjoyed books by this author and this is another th at I would highly recommend.
Profile Image for Denise.
178 reviews24 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 11, 2026
"'Did you feel special? Chosen? I did too.'"

I absolutely love Willow Rose's Billie Ann Wilde-series, so when I saw this one pop up, I knew I had to read it. I mean, who isn't drawn in by the premise of a woman, married to a successful doctor, living the absolute best life suddenly receiving a letter from the doctor's death ex-wife, Alice?! When Emma receives the first letter, she starts investigating. Execerbated by a tiktoker publishing clips about what might have really happened to Alice, things spiral out of control fast.

Okay, so I can't say that I didn't see the twist coming. I also can't say that I didn't shout at Emma more than once for not talking to anyone and just making things more complicated for herself. BUT, I don't care. Willow Rose spins a twisty tale that feels real, had my heart thumping, and made me question my own sanity at times. To His New Wife is a rollercoaster of a psychological thriller, with characters that are believable (anyone else think Gilmore Girls when reading and getting to know Robert and Margaret?!) and situations that make you hold your breath.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing a Digital Advanced Reader Copy of the book. This review is entirely my own.
Profile Image for Louise Wilson.
3,739 reviews1,699 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 1, 2026
When Emma marries Benjamin, her life becomes close to perfect as someone like her could ever have dreamed. No longer just working for her father, she was part of the family. Helping Benjamin move on from the tragic loss of his first wife hasn't been easy - tears, anniversaries, photos of her everywhere - but it brought the closer together, even if his daughter still spends all her time shut in her room. But when the first letter arrived at Emma's desk at work. A pristine white envelope with flawless calligraphy inside.

To Benjamin's new wife

With love from,

The wife he killed.

Who was writing these letters? Was his first wife actually dead? These were just two of the questions running through my head while I was reading the book. Just when I thought I had it all worked out, it would throw a curve ball, and I was back to thinking it all through again. The pace is steady and the characters are well-developed in this thought-provoking psychological thriller.

Published 12th February 2026

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #WillowRose for my ARC of #ToHisNewWife in exchange for an honest review.









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