Series: Last Mrs. Parrish #2
By: Liv Constantine
Narrators: Raquel Beattie, Scott Brick, Suzanne Elise Freeman, Erin Bennett
Random House Audio
ISBN: 978-0593599921
Publisher: Bantam, Random House
Publication Date: 06/18/2024
Format: Other
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC)
Daphne and Amber Parrish are thrust back into one another’s lives upon the resurgence of a long-forgotten threat, forcing a vicious game of cat and mouse where everything is on the line, in this thrilling sequel to the million-copy-bestselling Reese’s Book Club Pick The Last Mrs. Parrish.
Amber Patterson Parrish has come a long way from being an invisible wallflower. Her hard work and immaculate planning have paid off now that she’s a prominent socialite, but that doesn’t mean she’s had it easy along the way. Less than a year since her husband Jackson’s tax evasion scandal, Amber is still at the top of the Bishops Harbor community pecking order, free to do as she wishes while Jackson sits in prison. But that freedom is quickly coming to an end. With Jackson getting released from prison, Amber’s time—and money—is vanishing.
Meanwhile, Daphne Parrish left Bishops Harbor after her divorce from Jackson Parrish, swearing she would never go back. But when her daughter, Tallulah, runs away from home, desperate to see her father, Daphne agrees to return for the summer to allow him supervised visits. Once out of prison, Jackson swears he’s a changed man but Daphne knows all too well that Jackson can’t be trusted.
When a ghost from Amber’s past emerges looking for revenge, the three of them find unlikely allies in one another, but who is playing who? When all is said and done, they’ll have to fight tooth and nail for everything they have left in this zero-sum game.
With shocking turns and entertaining characters, The Next Mrs. Parrish will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about duplicity and betrayal.
About the Authors
Liv Constantine is the pen name of sisters Lynne Constantine and Valerie Constantine. Lynne and Valerie are national and international bestselling authors with over one and a half million copies sold worldwide. Their books have been translated into 29 languages, are available in 34 countries, and are in development for both television and film. Their novels have been praised by The Washington Post, USA Today, The Sunday Times, People Magazine, and Good Morning America, among many others. Their debut novel, THE LAST MRS. PARRISH, is a Reese Witherspoon Book Club selection.
Visit their website at www.livconstantine.com and find them on Twitter at https://twitter.com/LivConstantine2 or Instagram under the handle @livconstantine2
Exceptional Authors. Standout Books. Elevator Talk.
INTRIGUING QUESTIONS. INQUIRING READERS WANT TO KNOW.
"Behind the Book & The Author"
With New York Times Bestselling Author
Liv Constantine
Welcome to the second June 2024 #AuthorElevatorSeries! Joining us for the first time a personal and fan favorite special guest, internationally bestselling author Liv Constantine, with the second in the popular Last Mrs. Parrish series— the highly anticipated sequel, THE NEXT MRS. PARRISH.
Join us as Lynne and Valerie share some fascinating behind-the-scenes exclusives from the book and up-close and personal fun moments from these powerhouse sister authors.
Behind the Book
Q. Give us your best ELEVATOR PITCH for THE LAST MRS. PARRISH.
• Daphne and Amber Parrish are thrust back into each other’s lives upon the resurgence of a long-forgotten threat, forcing a vicious game of cat and mouse where everything is on the line. The Next Mrs. Parrish will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about duplicity and betrayal.
Q. DESCRIBE your novel in three words or less.
• Diabolical, Delicious, Double Crossing.
Q. INSPIRATION: The spark that ignited the novel (or series). Where were you when the idea came to you?
• Writing the prequel to The Last Mrs. Parrish and falling in love with Daisy Ann, a character born of that story, was really the spark that ignited our decision to continue the saga.
Q. RESEARCH: Any fascinating research for the novel, or anything you learned along the way?
• Daisy Ann is a Texan, and so a great portion of the novel is set in Dallas. We read voraciously and learned so much about the early history of that great city, its land grants, its larger-than-life luminaries, and its great community, culture and spirit. (And also, the fascinating story of Nordstrom’s beginnings!)
• Talking to jewelers and researching the Diamond District in New York City was another riveting bit of research for us.
Q. CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: Your favorite character to write, and/or most challenging? How much fun was it writing these devilish characters and getting inside their heads?
• It’s always incredibly fun to write the devilish characters like Amber and Jackson. Anyone observing would have probably seen grins on our faces as we wrote some of the choicer scenes.
Q. SERIES: Please tell us if there will be more books in this series. We loved Daisy Ann!
• We love her too! Once again, we’ll let our readers decide if there’s to be another day in the sun for these characters.
Q. WRITING: Do you have a favorite chapter or scene in the novel you enjoyed writing the most?
• We have to say that we enjoyed every bit of it, but the last chapter was especially delicious to write.
Q. TOPICS: Name 1-3 topics or themes addressed in the novel?
• Remaining true to one’s values
• Loyalty
• Justice
Q. DID YOU KNOW? Name 1-5 things that readers may or may not know about your new book. (or a detail that readers may not find in the book).
• There is a new and alluring character who is a walk on in this book, but we we would love to develop her further if we continue the series.
• The ending for both Jackson and Amber changed at the last minute
Fascinating! Continue reading (below) for more up close and personal from Lynne and Valerie!
Behind the Author(s)
BIRTH STATE? or (Country)
• Maryland (Valerie and Lynne)
CURRENT STATE?
• Maryland (Valerie)
• Connecticut (Lynne)
ZODIAC SIGN?
• Pisces (Valerie)
• Sagittarius (Lynne)
FAVORITE THING ABOUT WHERE YOU RESIDE?
• The Atlantic Ocean and Maryland’s gorgeous trees and incredible greenery (Valerie)
• Long Island Sound and all the beautiful towns and beaches nearby (Lynne)
FAVORITE FLOWER?
• Hibiscus (Valerie)
• Dahlia (Lynne)
FAVORITE COLOR?
• Orange (Valerie)
• Blue (Lynne)
YOUR FAVORITE GO TO DRINK OR FOOD WHEN THE WORLD GOES A LITTLE CRAZY?
• Ice Cream (Valerie)
• Red Wine (Lynne)
FAVORITE FOOD/DRINK?
• Anything Italian (Valerie)
• Pizza (Lynne)
MORNING/NIGHT PERSON?
• Night, but wish it wasn’t so (Valerie)
• Morning (Lynne)
DOG/CAT LOVER?
• Dog (Valerie)
• Dog (Lynne)
FAVORITE HOBBY?
• Reading (Valerie)
• Reading (Lynne)
YOUR FAVORITE LIFE LESSON QUOTE?
• The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now. (Valerie)
• Find a job you love and you will never work a day in your life (Lynne)
FAVORITE TYPE OF MUSIC?
• Rock and Roll (Valerie)
• All kinds (Lynne)
FAVORITE SONG OR ARTIST?
• Mr. Blue Sky by ELO (Valerie)
• 100 Years by Five for Fighting (Lynne)
THE FIRST BOOK YOU REMEMBER READING THAT MADE YOU WANT TO BECOME AN AUTHOR—THE ONE YOU CANNOT STOP THINKING OF.
• Penmarric by Susan Howatch (Valerie & Lynne)
FAVORITE HOLIDAY OR SEASON?
• Christmas (Valerie)
• Thanksgiving (Lynne)
FAVORITE READING FORMAT?
• Hardcover - Valerie
• Paperback on the beach, hardcover at home (Lynne)
FAVORITE TV SERIES? (Or Movie/Video) binge-watch, series, etc.?
• A tie between Schitt’s Creek and I Love Lucy (Valerie)
• Desperate Housewives and Seinfeld (Lynne)
MOST MEMORABLE PLACE YOU HAVE TRAVELED?
• India (Valerie)
• Dubai (Lynne)
IF YOU WERE GRANTED 3 MONTHS OF UNINTERRUPTED WRITING TIME—WHERE WOULD IT BE?
• A Coastal Seaside Cottage (Valerie and Lynne)
IF YOUR LIFE WAS A BOOK, WHAT WOULD BE THE TITLE OF YOUR CURRENT CHAPTER?
• Decisions (Valerie)
• Whirlwind (Lynne)
WHICH OF YOUR BOOKS IS YOUR FAVORITE? WHY?
• Another tie – between The Last Mrs. Parrish and The Next Mrs. Parrish (Valerie)
• The Last Mrs. Parrish because it made us full-time authors and the characters never left us (Lynne)
IF YOU COULD ELIMINATE ONE THING FROM YOUR DAILY LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
• Cooking (Valerie)
• Cooking (Lynne)
HOW DO YOU RELAX?
• Reading, walking, crossword puzzles (Valerie)
• With a glass of wine on my patio talking with family or friends (Lynne)
DESCRIBE ONE THING ON YOUR DESK, CURRENTLY?
• A statue of Shakespeare (Valerie)
• Greek worry beads (Lynne)
WHICH DO YOU ENJOY WRITING MORE: DIALOGUE OR INTERNAL THOUGHTS?
• Internal thoughts (Valerie)
• It really depends on my mood (Lynne)
DO YOU LISTEN TO MUSIC WHILE WRITING?
• No (Valerie)
• No unless I’m writing in a public place and then I listen to classical music (Lynne)
YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM? (Or would you prefer none of them)?
• None of them (Valerie)
• Instagram (Lynne)
A FAVORITE CHARACTER FROM YOUR BOOK(s).
• Rosemary from The Senator’s Wife (Valerie)
• Blythe from The Stranger in the Mirror (Lynne)
INTROVERT OR EXTROVERT?
• Introvert (Valerie)
• Extrovert (Lynne)
A FAVORITE INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE?
• Park Books in Severna Park, Maryland (Valerie)
• My local Barnes and Noble in Milford (Lynne)
THE LAST BOOK YOU RAVED ABOUT?
• Absolution by Alice McDermott (Valerie)
• The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (Lynne)
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE REMEMBERED FOR?
• Kindness (Valerie)
• Generosity of spirit (Lynne)
WISH STATE OR COUNTRY? (Where you would love to live)
• Italy (Valerie)
• California (Lynne)
COULD YOU RECOMMEND ANY BOOKS THAT YOU HAVE READ RECENTLY AND LOVED?
• Table for Two by Amor Towles, Legacy by Uche Blackstock, Absolution by Alice McDermott (Valerie)
• I am Pilgrim, Terry Hayes, Circe by Madeline Miller (Lynne)
PIE OR CAKE?
• Cake (Valerie)
• Cake (Lynne)
ICE CREAM: CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA?
• Vanilla (Valerie)
• Vanilla (Lynne)
FIRST CAR?
• Fiat (Valerie)
• Chevy Malibu (Lynne)
PET PEEVE?
• Traffic congestion (Valerie)
• Inconsiderate people (Lynne)
COFFEE OR TEA?
• Coffee (Valerie)
• Coffee (Lynne)
HOW OFTEN DO YOU LOOK AT YOUR PHONE EVERY DAY?
• Too often (Valerie)
• Too many times to count (Lynne)
WHAT MAKES YOU ANGRY?
• Congress (Valerie)
• Rudeness (Lynne)
TRAVELER OR HOMEBODY?
• Traveler (Valerie)
• Homebody (Lynne)
WHO GIVES YOU THE COURAGE TO TRY NEW THINGS?
• My husband (Valerie)
• Myself (Lynne)
A SMELL YOU LOVE?
• Lilacs (Valerie)
• Honeysuckle Lynne)
A WRITING IDOL?
• Sinclair Lewis (Valerie)
• Khaled Hosseini (Lynne)
YOUR BIGGEST CHEERLEADER?
• My son Christopher (Valerie)
• My mother (Lynne)
Thank you, Lynne and Valerie, for spending time with us today!
Join Liv Constantine on Tour!
Praise
“Delicious and shocking, The Next Mrs. Parrish is an incredibly entertaining and compulsive tale of revenge and deception you won’t want to miss.”
—Jeneva Rose, New York Times bestselling author of You Shouldn’t Have Come Here
“A brilliant page-turner where nothing (and no one) is what it seems . . . Pour a glass of wine and settle in for the ride.”
—Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Before She Disappeared
“The Next Mrs. Parrish sizzles with devious characters, head-spinning twists, and a breathless game of cat and mouse. Constantine fans are in for a treat—and one hell of a ride!”
—Andrea Bartz, New York Times bestselling author of The Spare Room
“The players are about to get played. You’ll devour this juicy, twisty psychological thriller in one sitting!”
—Lisa Scottoline, #1 bestselling author of The Truth About the Devlins
“Get ready for a roller coaster of suspense. . . . Delightful and addictive, I loved this riveting read!”
—Jean Kwok, New York Times bestselling author of Girl in Translation
“The Next Mrs. Parrish is to die for!”
—Vanessa Lillie, USA Today bestselling author of Blood Sisters
“Masterful. Enthralling. Diabolical.”
—Michele Campbell, internationally bestselling author of The Intern
"The timeless battle between good and evil has never been trashier. Hooray."
—Kirkus Reviews
My Review
FABULOUS! Another winner (sequel) by the dynamic partners-in-crime duo!
INTERVIEW: Check out the #AuthorElevatorSeries Q&A above! #CoverCrush
Talented author Liv Constantine returns following The Senator's Wife with the popular series (Mrs. Parrish), the highly anticipated #2 THE NEXT MRS. PARRISH —a deliciously wicked, fun cat-and-mouse thriller of revenge and obsession that will keep you entertained until the explosive ending. Fans of the series and authors will devour.
My favorite of the series, with the introduction of a clever new character, Daisy Ann — that will keep you laughing and guessing as to how she will fit into this dysfunctional triangle —Amber, Daphne, and Jackson. What a blast!
Amber, Jackson's manipulative second wife, is trying to keep up appearances in Bishops Harbor society while her hubby is in prison for tax fraud. She cannot wait to ditch him and he feels the same, but they are keeping up appearances. They are using one another for their own personal gains.
Of course, Jackson and Amber are despicable, and the author brilliantly showcases their evil, deceitful, dishonest, and manipulative ways. During the novel, they always try to up one another.
Meanwhile, sweet first wife, Daphne, left Bishops Harbor for California (good riddance) after her divorce (abused) from Jackson, swearing she would never return.
However, her daughters do not know the real truth about their father and how manipulative and evil he is, but her oldest daughter, Tallulah, misses him. Daphne reluctantly agrees to return for the summer, being the good mother she is—putting their needs first.
Which character will one up the other, and which one will be left standing in this sizzling, twisty thriller of obsession and revenge of cat and mouse? How will these four characters' paths collide?
Oh my goodness! Clever, scandalous, wickedly delicious, and brilliantly crafted, the author keeps the twists coming to the end! Nothing is as it seems. Oh, how I loved the ending!
THE NEXT MRS. PARRISH is a sinister, riveting, sizzling domestic suspense/psychological thriller. It is highly entertaining, with dark humor and characters we love to hate. I read this in one sitting and could not put it down. It is chilling, delightful, and satisfying!
In this installment, you will sympathize with Daphne, cheer on Daisy Ann, and hope Amber and Jackson ultimately get what is coming to them. The past will not stay buried forever. Get the popcorn ready —you will need a ring-side seat for this one!
Even though Jackson and Amber are evil characters, I loved Jackson's comment to Amber that the most time she had ever spent with their son was in the delivery room! So true.
Well done, sisters in crime. For thriller lovers and Constantine fans, The First Shot, The Last Mrs. Parrish, and The Next Mrs. Parrish is a must-read series. For fans of author Kaira Rouda.
Thank you, Random House (Bantam) and NetGalley, for a digital advanced reading copy for an honest review. Also pre-ordered the audiobook—cannot wait with favorite narrators Raquel Beattie, Scott Brick, Suzanne Elise Freeman, and Erin Bennett. FUN, FUN!
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: June 18, 2024
June 2024 Must-Read Books
June Featured #AuthorElevatorSeries
