Unmarried
- Judith D Collins
- Nov 19
- 4 min read
Perfect Couples #2
By: Emily Shiner
Narrators: Madeline Pell, Stephanie Cannon, Patricia Rodriguez
ISBN: 978-1805500902
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: 11/19/2025
Format: e-book
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC)
He killed his first wife.
But I married him to protect
my own secrets…
I never expected to find my happily ever after with Dr Mitch Ellis. I wore a lace dress with an extravagant train to our wedding at the biggest church in town. Mitch wanted to be sure everything was flawless. Now I can see I’ve made a grave mistake. Mitch wants me to be his quiet, perfect little wife, just like his last one. He doesn’t know who he is dealing with this time.
He thinks I haven’t noticed her jewellery still tucked away in our room. And that the details on her death certificate don’t add up. He believes I’m happily under his thumb, sunning myself all day by his pool where his staff can keep an eye on me.
Mitch should pay for what he did to the woman before me, and I won’t let him get away with it this time…
Unmarried is a totally gripping psychological thriller packed with twists, perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, The Perfect Marriage and Gone Girl.
This book can also be enjoyed as a standalone.
About the Author
Emily Shiner grew up in Western North Carolina, and after going to college in Charlotte, returned to her beloved mountains to write novels that keep you up at night. She lives with her husband, daughter, two dogs, a menagerie of chickens, and tens of thousands of bees. When not writing, she’s reading, hiking, or drinking copious amounts of tea while daydreaming about fall. WEBSITE
Perfect Couples Series
UNMARRIED #2
UNINVITED #1
My Review
Bestselling author and master of revenge narratives, Emily Shiner—my personal favorite—makes a triumphant return with her Perfect Couples Series and the eagerly awaited sequel to Uninvited, with #2, UNMARRIED.
In this captivating follow-up, we reconnect with Aimee as she maneuvers through a perilous game of cat-and-mouse that promises to keep your heart pounding.
Shiner expertly crafts a complex tapestry of tension and intrigue, delivering a twisty psychological thriller that ensnares you from the very first page. Prepare to immerse yourself in this gripping narrative; it’s nearly impossible to put down, and you’ll likely find yourself racing through it in one exhilarating sitting.
About the Characters...
Aimee:
After the untimely death of her fiancé, Dale, Aimee marries his friend, Dr. Mitch Ellis, not out of love, but to safeguard her own secrets. Blackmail.
Mitch:
This handsome yet sinister doctor exerts control over Aimee, compelling her into marriage. He bears the dark cloud of suspicion over the murder of his first wife and is also Dale's best friend.
Hannah:
Mitch's sister, previously introduced in Uninvited (Dale's mistress), allies with Aimee but harbors her own manipulative intentions. Can she truly be trusted?
Jackie:
A surprise character haunted by her past, Jackie’s true connection to the story remains a mystery until later on. She is undoubtedly one of the most compelling aspects of the narrative.
The story unfolds through the alternating perspectives of Hannah, Aimee, and Jackie, with multiple characters ensnared in a web of deceit that extends beyond the primary trio.
Picking up from where the first book left off in Miami, we now find ourselves back in Vermont, grappling with the fallout of Dale's death. The woman he was involved with, Hannah, is now Aimee's sister-in-law, having married Mitch, the affluent doctor and Dale's closest friend.
Let the games commence!
My Thoughts...
Everyone has their own agenda!
A sizzling page-turner. The cleverly crafted dual perspectives amplify the tension, challenging readers to discern who’s truthful and who’s concealing secrets. Shiner skillfully employs Jackie's viewpoint to engage readers in a guessing game, artfully twisting expectations along the way.
No character is entirely reliable, adding layers of suspense, tension, and paranoia. The central conflict revolves around Aimee’s gradual realization that Mitch may have been responsible for his first wife's death, placing her in imminent danger.
Mitch’s sister, Hannah, has her own hidden motives. While she appears to assist Aimee in seeking revenge, her true intentions remain suspect. What secrets does she hold?
As Aimee delves into Mitch’s past, she uncovers the extent of his malevolence. He believes she’s complacently enjoying life by the pool, oblivious to her clandestine investigation. Meanwhile, her own dark secret—one that led to their marriage—adds an ongoing layer of suspense, keeping readers on edge.
In classic Shiner style, the final reveal is nothing short of masterful. Her skill in manipulating readers’ perceptions makes this game of cat and mouse deliciously wicked, transforming it into a high-stakes survival story.
All the while, Jackie's enigmatic voice will keep you turning pages into the early hours of the morning.
Prepare for explosive secrets in this twisty domestic suspense. Aimee’s undercover investigation becomes a pivotal source of suspense as she risks everything to unveil the truth about her perilous new husband, as well as Hannah and the intriguing Jackie.
With themes of love bombing, manipulation, deceit, and betrayal, don’t expect to encounter many likable characters.
A shocking twist awaits at the end that flips the narrative on its head. And will there be a third installment? I certainly hope so.
Stay tuned for my Bookouture Blog Tour Stop on November 19!
Special thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest review. I look forward to listening to the audiobook.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Nov 19, 2025
