The Last Mrs. Parrish: A Novel

by Liv Constantine

Paperback, 2018

Status

Available

Description

Fiction. Literature. Suspense. Thriller. HTML: THE NATIONAL BESTSELLER AND A REESE WITHERSPOON'S HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB PICK "Will keep you up. In a 'can't put it down' way. It's 'The Talented Mr. Ripley' with XX chromosomes."â??The Skimm "Deliciously duplicitous. . . . equally as twisty, spellbinding, and addictive as Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl or Paula Hawkins's The Girl on the Train."â??Library Journal (starred review) Amber Patterson is fed up. She's tired of being a nobody: a plain, invisible woman who blends into the background. She deserves moreâ??a life of money and power like the one blond-haired, blue-eyed goddess Daphne Parrish takes for granted. To everyone in the exclusive town of Bishops Harbor, Connecticut, Daphneâ??a socialite and philanthropistâ??and her real-estate mogul husband, Jackson, are a couple straight out of a fairy tale. Amber's envy could eat her alive . . . if she didn't have a plan. Amber uses Daphne's compassion and caring to insinuate herself into the family's lifeâ??the first step in a meticulous scheme to undermine her. Before long, Amber is Daphne's closest confidante, traveling to Europe with the Parrishes and their lovely young daughters, and growing closer to Jackson. But a skeleton from her past may undermine everything that Amber has worked towards, and if it is discovered, her well-laid plan may fall to pieces. With shocking turns and dark secrets that will keep you guessing until the very end, The Last Mrs. Parrish is a fresh, juicy, and utterly addictive thriller from a diabolically imagin… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member Linyarai
This book was fantastic and definitely not what I expected. I loved the story and how devious the characters were. I thought it was great how we switched to Daphne's perspective half way through, and I could not put the book down.
LibraryThing member bookworm12
This isn’t a bad book, but it happened come after a long string of similar books for me. I’m a bit burned out on the whole perfect life, secretly hiding in abusive husband plot. After Big Little Lies, Behind Closed Doors, I Let You Go, etc., this one felt predictable. It comes at the premise
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from a new angle, but it still felt too familiar.
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LibraryThing member PattyLouise
The Last Mrs. Parrish
By
Liz Constantine

What it's all about...

What is it about books with characters you absolutely love to hate? What it is...is this...these books are highly readable, they get to your gut, you bite your fingers with stress and you can not even remotely begin to think about putting
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these books down. Life kind of has to stop until you get to the next chapter and then another and another until you shockingly have finished the book in a day. I heard my husband call my name repeatedly but I didn’t have the strength to tear myself away from this book...sorry dear husband. This book was that good! So...here is the gist of this book. Daphne is married to Jackson who is wealthier than anyone should be. They have beautiful homes, country club memberships, two lovely young daughters...pretty much everything anyone could want. From the outside looking in they are the most beautiful couple. But evil lurks within their “happy” life. Daphne develops a friendship with a poor unattractive woman...Amber...who works her way into the very heart of Daphne and Jackson’s relationship. No matter what they do...Amber is always there...always watching, working, lurking...seemingly ready to pounce! I loved it! Amber is filled with her own dirty secrets...I loved this even more!

Why I wanted to read it...

I really thought that this book would be a good one but I didn’t realize just how good it was destined to be. The premise wasn’t a new one but it was written in such a way as to sort of tease the reader along in a really clever way.

What made me truly enjoy this book...

I loved that I was surprised by certain situations in this book. I loved these surprises! The book took quite a few twisty turns that I didn’t expect but that really made this book exciting. Sharing any more about what actually happened would detract from anyone’s reading enjoyment...you really have to read it to believe it.

Why you should read it, too...

So...potential readers who like books with a bit of mystery, surprise, and a little bit of sexiness...should love this book. The characters...Daphne, Jackson and Amber drive this story. They roll around and tumble and perhaps even manage to pick themselves up again. But...certain characters get their “just rewards”. Readers might actually stand and cheer for this part! I loved this book.

I received an advance reader’s copy from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. I then read this book on my Kindle Oasis.
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LibraryThing member teachlz
Lindas BOOK OBSESSION REVIEW OF
“THE LAST MRS. PARRISH” by LIV CONSTANTINE

I have to blame Liv Constantine, (the two authors) of “The Last Mrs. Parrish”.. for my anguish. This intense,and suspenseful psychological thriller had me actually biting and chewing my permanent gel nails, and I
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almost chipped a tooth! Also, I have dark circles from under my eyes from staying up all night captivated by your book! It’s really all your fault!
Kudos to the authors for writing such an incredible story! What an adventure!!
The genres for the book are Psychological Thriller, Mystery and Suspense, and Fiction. Be warned :the excitement and the twists and turns, and highs and lows won’t let you see what is coming next.
The timeline of the story is in the present, with references to the past only when it pertains to the characters or events.
The authors describe the
colorful cast of characters as complex, complicated, greedy, dysfunctional, competitive, and possible psychologically unbalanced.
(to say the least)
To be part of the wealthy and fabulous Parrish family seems like a dream come true to Amber Patterson, a con-artist, who is looking to become friends with Daphne Parrish. Daphne is the wife of an extremely wealthy and handsome man. Amber has done her homework, and knows that Daphne’s sister had died from Cystic Fibrosis, and Daphne heads this Foundation. Why should Daphne have the jewelry, the servants, the vacations? Amber really thinks this presents an opportunity for her. But, is everything the way it seems?
There are secrets and betrayals. I couldn’t predict many things that were happening. I highly recommend this intense, suspenseful, psychological thriller and mystery to any readers that enjoy any of these genres. I loved everything about this book. I kept repeating “OMG” “OMG” at the end of this book.” I received this book from a very special friend, and I can’t thank her enough! Happy reading!
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LibraryThing member gpangel
The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine is a 2017 Harperluxe publication.

Slick, shrewd, and wickedly devious-

Daphne meets Amber at the gym, where they discover they share a terrible tragedy in common- the death of a beloved sister due to Cystic Fibrosis. The women, though from very different
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worlds, form a close bond.

Before long, Amber has become Daphne’s confidante, while also working for her CF foundation, and even helps Mr. Parrish went he needs an assistant.

But, Amber has plans, big plans, and in order to achieve her goals, she will walk over and step on anyone in her path- even Daphne-

This story was chilling, clever, and sinfully entertaining. Amber gets to set the pace in the first half of the book as she describes her cunning, and very manipulative nature. She’s not the timid, sweet, impressionable woman she appears to be.

Once she has clued us in on her diabolic plans, and once she has seemingly gotten what she came for, the story shifts gears, and Daphne takes control of the wheel.

It’s at this point, things really get interesting-

There are many breadcrumbs left on the trail, and if you follow them you probably won’t be all that surprised when you learn all that glitters, isn’t gold. But, that’s only part of the picture. Those who appear naïve, those appear in control, those who seem like innocent bystanders may not be as naïve, innocent or as in control as they appear.

By the time we get to the last section in the book, that old phrase about ‘what goes around comes around' came to mind, along with a few other books or movies in which the tables are turned in spectacular fashion, and revenge is carried out with carefully constructed scheming.

The book is not too big on shock and awe, instead opting for a stylish noir type atmosphere, which is more understated than many novels that land in this sub-genre, but it gets the job done, just the same, without going off the rails with unnecessary plot twists.

The characters were not overly developed, as we only see them in certain contexts, with was key to the story, nor did they evoke deep feelings or emotions, other than disdain or dislike, but by the time all is said and done, I had an enormous amount of respect for some of them.

What makes the novel work is the careful arrangement and pacing. The twists weren’t really all that surprising, but they are still delectable and immensely entertaining. The story is a bit of a cautionary tale, a warning to beware of what appears on the surface, to never judge a book by its cover, or blindly trust people. But, it was also a story of escape and empowerment- albeit, one with an unconventional approach, as well as a tale of retribution- which was the most satisfying part of this enjoyable parable.

Overall, this is an impressive debut novel, and I look forward to seeing what else these talented sisters will entertain us with in the future.
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LibraryThing member rglossne
Amber Patterson worms her way into the lives of the rich and charming Parrishes. It's evident from the beginning of the book what she is up to, but the twist is revealed only after she achieves her goal.
Good fun.
LibraryThing member Susan.Macura
This is the lovely story of the growing friendship of Amber Patterson, a woman who has very little, with Daphne Parrish, a woman who has it all, thanks to her marriage to the perfect man, Jackson Parrish. Jackson swept Daphne off her feet when she was a young woman, married her in a short time,
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moved her into a virtual castle complete with staff to keep it perfect and allowed her to be a stay-at-home mom to their two daughters. It was a shame that Daphne could not have another child as Jackson wished he had a son, but who has it all? Amber wants it all, and somehow she will get it. However, sometimes one has to be careful what one wishes for. There are some very interesting twists in the tale, making this such a fun book to read! I loved it!
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LibraryThing member jenn88
Amber Patterson is tired of being a plain Jane and a nobody. She deserves a life of luxury and power. She wants the life Daphne Parrish takes for granted. Daphne's handsome husband Jackson is a philanthropist and a real estate mogul. They have two lovely daughters. They live in a mansion on the
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water in the exclusive town of Bishop's Harbor, Connecticut. It seems as though they're straight out of the pages of a fairytale. Amber has a plan - she's going to worm her way into their lives by using Daphne's younger sister who passed away from cystic fibrosis. Pretty soon Amber is Daphne's best friend and closest confidante. She's traveling to Europe with family and spending Christmas with them. And she's growing closer to Jackson. But something from Amber's past is threatening to destroy everything she's worked so hard to take away from Daphne.

I was hooked from page one. The writing was great. Lots of manipulation, dark secrets, envy (maybe even from me at times), and surprises. It was easy and fun for me to envision all the expensive things and beautiful places that were in this book. The characters really came to life and I enjoyed how we got both sides of the story - very interesting and well done. This was an entertaining and compulsive read.
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LibraryThing member erinclark
Great psychological thriller. If you enjoyed Gone Girl you will enjoy this one. Highly recommended for excellent plot twists.
LibraryThing member Twink
The Last Mrs. Parish is the latest novel from two sisters writing as Liv Constantine. And for those of you who like psychological suspense - you're going to want to read this one!

Amber has set her sights set on having Daphne Parrish's fairy tale life. Not just a life like Daphne's - she literally
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wants her husband Jackson, her house, her money and her social standing. And why shouldn't she have it she thinks? She's smart, beautiful and just as good as these society women. So, she reinvents herself, begins ingratiating herself with Daphne and slowly insinuates her way into the Parrish family life......

Oh, Amber is one of the best 'worst' characters I've read in a long time. She's callous, cold and calculating. Constantine's depiction of her scheming is impossible to put down. The reader is aware of Amber's plan and I wanted to shout at Daphne - to wake her up to what is happening right under her nose. Surely she can't be that oblivious?

There are three parts to The Last Mrs. Parrish. Part Two comes from a different viewpoint - and is no less addictive. You might have an idea whose viewpoint part two belongs to - and yes, you're going to race through it as well. Part three? Well, it's just perfect. And just deserts.

Constantine does a wonderful job of manipulating her characters - and the reader. Although the twist is telegraphed ahead, it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book. The Last Mrs. Parrish was a five star read for me - twisty, addicting and just plain fun to read. I wouldn't be surprised to see film rights for this book being snapped up. I look forward to the next thriller from these two sisters.
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LibraryThing member jfe16
Amber Patterson, tired of being poor, hatches a diabolically wicked plan to take over the life of her new “best friend,” Daphne Parrish. Oblivious to Amber’s Machiavellian plot, Daphne welcomes her into the family, treating her as a beloved sister. As Amber silently fumes over the way Daphne
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takes her wealth for granted, she longs to be the one with the position in society, the one enjoying the luxury and wealth and all of its trappings. And, for good measure, she’s set her sights on Daphne’s husband, Jackson, as well.

Sometimes, everything in the universe fall into its proper place and someone gets exactly what they deserve . . . .

Readers will find this cat-and-mouse caper deceptively complex as the unfolding story, told first by Amber, then by Daphne, spins out its unexpected revelations. Although the [very good] good guys wear white hats, the [very bad] bad guys wear black, and there is no grey anywhere, the characters never tumble into the obscurity of one-dimensionality even when they are completely over the top.

Readers should be aware of a few cringe-worthy scenes, necessary in revealing sociopathic behavior. Uncomfortable and troubling, they nevertheless provide a strong backstory, essential in the telling of the tale.
Despite some predictable moments, the twisty plot slowly reveals unforeseen truths; there is enough deliciousness in this tale of manipulation, greed, and comeuppance to keep those pages turning.

Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member seasonsoflove
In The Last Mrs. Parrish, Constantine (actually the pen name of two sisters writing together) tells the story of Amber, a woman who feels no one sees her and is determined to be seen. She covets the life of Daphne, married to a rich and handsome husband, and does everything in her power to take
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that life for herself, including becoming the best friend Daphne can rely on. But it might be better for Amber to stay in the shadows, as she has a past with the ability to end all her power plays and bring her down.

I wanted to love this book. I've heard so many good things about it, it's all over book lovers' social media accounts, and it seems to be the book everyone is talking about. So when I finally made it to the top of the extensive hold list for a copy from the library, I was really excited.

The first part had me hooked. While Amber is highly unlikable, that is the point. Her scheming ways, the hint of something from her past lurking just out of view, the possibility that she will be found out, the possibility that she will get everything she wants...I flew through Part 1.

And then I got to Part 2.

While I absolutely appreciate a big twist in a book (actually one of my absolute favorite things to discover in a book I'm reading), the twist still has to make sense. It has to be rooted in some way to what has come before. It can't be shocking just to be shocking.This twist, while definitely surprising, felt out of left field to me. Then Part 3, while satisfying in many ways, also felt a little too neat and tidy for what had come before.

This book definitely had potential, and it was by no means a bad read. It kept me turning pages quickly, wanting to know what was coming next. But I've read a lot better. If you are looking for a book with these kinds of themes-love triangle, jealously, replacement-pick up The Wife Between Us instead, which spins a twist that will make you gasp out loud but still makes sense when you look back.
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LibraryThing member jjnaaucoin
I really enjoyed this book, couldn’t put it down. I hope to read more from throw duo.
LibraryThing member leopolds
Amber Patterson is envious of Daphne Parrish who is a rich socialite living in Fairfield County, Connecticut. The two women have never met but Amber develops an obsession with her wonderful lifestyle. Daphne has a rich and handsome husband, two beautiful daughters, full time staff, interesting
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acquaintances and is president of her own foundation. Amber has few of these attributes and is jealous that someone else gets to live such a great lifestyle. She is fed up with her current environment and decides to make drastic changes. She extensively researches the Parrish family so that she can find a way to befriend them and enter their lives.

Amber moves from Missouri to Connecticut and creates a new identity. She helps Daphne with her foundation’s fundraiser and the two ladies become friends. She becomes a fixture at their dinners and they spend their weekends and holidays together. Amber’s plan seems to be working and she starts her scheme to become the new Mrs. Parrish.

The story is told from both Amber’s and Daphne’s points of view. The book has many twists and turns as each secret is revealed. It's a fun read that is difficult to put down. This novel was written by a team of sisters (Lynne and Valerie) under the name Liv Constantine.
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LibraryThing member ChrisWay
Entertaining, but storyline is similar to several other books I've read in the last year.
LibraryThing member karenvg3
Yeah that was a treat. Parts of this book hit a little too close to home being from a past verbally abusive marriage, but that didn’t stop me from reading. Oh amber you dirty villain. You so got what was coming to you. Would have liked to see a bit more come down on Jackson but all’s well that
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ends well. Loving Reese’s book club picks so far. 4🌟
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LibraryThing member arielfl
I quite enjoyed this thriller. You don't want to know too much about this book before going into it. I will say it's a portrait of a marriage told by two different women. It's amazing how one event can be perceived two completely different ways. I picked up on some of the clues along the way and it
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did not dampen my enjoyment of the story in the least. The ending was extremely satisfying. This would make a great HBO movie. A fantastic way to start my reading year.
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LibraryThing member SBoren
I purchased this book from Half Priced Books to read with my bestie @mycornerforbooksand. All opinions are my own. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟The Last Mrs Parrish by Liv Constantine. Amber was dealt a crappy hand in life but she sets her sights on the richest, most handsome man, Jackson Parrish. Jackson
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is married to wonderful Daphne and they live a luxurious life, but Amber is determined Jackson will belong to her and she will be the next Mrs. Parrish. She worms her way into their world and begins to plant herself in the place she wants to be most, hoping her past can be left in the past. This book was just edgy enough to keep you wanting more but once you reach Part 2 this book is absolutely unputdownable! You have to know more and after that is was an edge of the seat page turner that kept you looking for vengefulness from both women! Review also posted on Instagram @borenbooks, Library Thing, Amazon, Goodreads/StacieBoren, Twitter @jason_stacie and my blog at readsbystacie.com
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LibraryThing member JJbooklvr
This is a tough one to review. I don't want to give out any spoilers. There are twists and turns and be very careful what you wish for. Overall it has a satisfying ending, but a bumpy ride getting there for me. Some of the second part of the book was hard to read. Remember no spoilers so I won't
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get into why. I did like how it was set up and the way the plot details were laid out. Psychological thriller fans will want to pick this one up. People with trigger warning issues may want to ask for more info before reading though.
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LibraryThing member SallyElizabethMurphy
Off the wall and completely ridiculous, yet strangely addictive and endearing.
LibraryThing member bookczuk
Transparent. I just waited for the book to catch up with my deductions.
LibraryThing member CarrieWuj
2.5. Perfect vacation read - page-turner with suspense and simple premise. Amber Patterson worms her way into Daphne Parrish’s posh life by claiming a sister who died of CF just like Daphne. A little creepy in the careful intention with which Amber wants to take Daphne’s place with her rich
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powerful husband Jackson. First half is a little predictable and hard to believe in that regard. 2nd half is equally hard to believe, but revenge is sweet and new facets are revealed. Reese book, which gave me higher expectations.
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LibraryThing member KatherineGregg
While I did in fact listen to the entire audio book (hoping that there would be some well deserved retribution for some of the despicable characters in the book, mainly Jackson and Amber), it was a disappointing "read". The characters were one dimensional and not at all likeable. The story line was
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entirely unbelievable. The Last Mrs Parrish is about a successful man, Jackson Parrish, who likes to control and in turn torture his wives when they don't obey. The cause for Daphne's maddeningly passive behavior is ultimately revealed which somewhat makes the first Mrs. Parrish a more sympathetic and slightly likeable character. There was some suspense but the plot was fairly predictable. I was hoping for a more dramatic ending where Jackson and Amber are severely punished.
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LibraryThing member CharlotteBurt
A really good twisty thriller. Told in two parts. The first from the perspective of Amber, who is a character you can love to hate. She tries to steal herself a rich man and become the second Mrs Parrish. The second half told from the perspective of the current Mrs Parrish, Daphne, and things are
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not at all how they appear. All about how we never really know what goes on behind the closed doors of our neighbour's houses.
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LibraryThing member DivineMissW
Excellent book, didn't expect the twist

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