Books That Showcase The Dark Side of Relationships

Like any enterprising woman, Bea knows what she’s worth and is determined to get all she deserves—it just so happens that what she deserves is to marry rich. Filthy rich. After years of forced instruction by her mother in the art of swindling men, a now-solo Bea wants nothing more than to close and lock the door on their sordid partnership so she can disappear safely into old-money domesticity, sealing the final phase of her escape.
When Bea chooses her ultimate target in the fully loaded, thoroughly dull and blue-blooded Collin Case, she’s ready to deploy all of her tricks one last time. The challenge isn’t getting the ring, but rather the approval of Collin’s family and everyone else in their 1 percent tax bracket, particularly his childhood best friend, Gale Wallace-Leicester.
Going toe-to-toe with Gale isn’t a threat to an expert like Bea, but what begins as an amusing cat-and-mouse game quickly develops into a dangerous pursuit of the grisly truth. Finding herself at a literal life-and-death crossroads with everything on the line, Bea must finally decide who she really wants to be. Like mother, like daughter?

Joe has always thought that his parents, William and Mary, are the quintessential loving couple who've been married six decades. But when Joe's father is brutally attacked, he wonders who would hurt an old man...but upon investigating, Joe discovers there's a lot he doesn't know about his parents. If you like The Other Wife by Michael Robotham, you'll enjoy Guilty by Laura Elliot. 

Marcie thought her position as Jason's new, sexy, younger second wife was secure...until Jason's business partner returns home from a trip abroad with his own second wife, a woman named Keisha. Everyone seems enamored with Keisha, including Jason, which means that Marcie must go to extreme lengths to keep everything she's fought for.

Alexis first met Austin in the ER, where she works as a doctor. Their relationship develops quickly, and Austin asks Alexis to travel with him to Vietnam, a country he's always wanted to visit. She agrees, but one evening while Alexis waits for Austin to return to the hotel, he vanishes. Desperate to find answers, Alexis begins searching for him, and uncovers a shocking series of lies.

Related: Must-Read Novels About Women Kicking Ass and Taking Names

One day, Lila's husband vanishes without a trace. He's the second unexplained disappearance their small town has experienced, and while people speculate whether he's alive or dead, Lila knows for certain that he's dead. After all, she was the last person to see his body, before it disappeared without explanation. If you enjoyed Pretty Little Wife, you'll like You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott.

From the acclaimed author of Blood Orange, a dark new psychological thriller about the perfect mother, the perfect wife, the perfect family—and the perfect murder. If you liked The Lies You Told, you'll love The Family by Louise Jensen.

Jen Hansen, Kittie Spears, and Cynthia Nichols have been friends since childhood. They are now approaching forty and their lives have changed, but their insular East Texas town has not. They stay sane by drinking wine in the afternoons, dishing about other women in the neighborhood, and bonding over the heartache of their own encroaching middle age and raising ungrateful teens.
Then Will Harding comes to town, moving into one of the neighborhood’s grandest homes. Mysterious and charming, he seems like the answer to each woman’s prayers. He’s a source of fascination for Jen, Kittie, and Cynthia, but none of them are ready for the way Will disrupts their lives.
As Will grows closer with each of the women, their fascination twists into obsession, threatening their friendships and their families. When he abruptly pulls away, each woman scrambles to discover the source of his affection. But what they’ll uncover is far more sinister and deadly than any of them could have ever imagined.