
19 Dec The Hunting Wives by May Cobb
I first picked up The Hunting Wives because, honestly, the premise screamed drama, and who doesn’t love a little suburban chaos now and then? It reminded me of overhearing those scandalous neighborhood whispers when I was a kid, watching my mom gossip with her friends on our front porch. This book felt like an invitation to sit in on those juicy conversations, but with much higher stakes. I went in expecting a juicy, scandal-filled romp, and boy, did it deliver.
What’s it about?
Picture this: Sophie O’Neill has it all. At least, on paper. She’s left her fast-paced, high-stress life in Chicago to settle in a postcard-perfect small town in Texas. She’s got a loving husband, a sweet son, and a gorgeous house with room to breathe. But that shiny new life starts to feel…well, a little dull. Sophie quickly realizes that while the quiet life might work for some people, she’s itching for something—anything—more exciting.
And then she meets Margot Banks. Margot is everything Sophie’s not: glamorous, daring, and dripping with magnetic queen-bee energy. Margot invites Sophie into her exclusive circle of friends, a group of women who live for cocktails, skeet shooting, and late-night adventures that seem harmless at first. But it doesn’t take long before Sophie realizes the Hunting Wives aren’t just about having fun—they thrive on danger and drama, and they’re not above bending the rules (or breaking them entirely).
Things really heat up when the group gets entangled in a murder investigation. A local teenager is found dead, and Sophie finds herself caught in a web of lies, secrets, and obsession that threatens to unravel her carefully constructed life. Suddenly, her desire for excitement feels less like a thrilling escape and more like a trap she can’t escape.
It’s a whirlwind of toxic friendships, bad decisions, and a mystery that keeps you flipping pages late into the night. Cobb doesn’t just serve up the drama—she ladles it on, thick and juicy, with no holds barred.
What This Chick Thinks
Okay, let’s be real: this book is a train wreck, but in the best way possible. You’ve got morally questionable characters, so many bad decisions you lose count, and a story that’s just oozing with drama. It’s like eating a giant piece of chocolate cake—you know it’s not good for you, but you can’t stop, and by the time it’s over, you’re debating licking the plate.
What really worked for me was the atmosphere. May Cobb does a stellar job of painting this idyllic small-town setting and then peeling back the layers to show you the seedy underbelly. The Hunting Wives’ glamorous, scandalous world is totally over-the-top, but that’s part of the fun. It’s escapism at its finest.
Sophie as a protagonist is…complicated. She’s flawed in a way that makes you want to shake her, but also makes her human. You understand why she’s drawn to Margot and the thrill of this new life, even as you’re screaming at her to run in the opposite direction. And Margot? Absolute chaos in human form. She’s the kind of character you can’t take your eyes off, even when you know she’s about to blow everything up.
If I have one complaint, it’s that the mystery element wasn’t as shocking as I’d hoped. I figured out a couple of the twists ahead of time, but honestly, I was so invested in the characters and their messy, drama-filled lives that it didn’t really matter. This is one of those books where the ride is more important than the destination.
Oh, and let’s not forget—the book’s being adapted into a TV series by Starz! Rebecca Cutter, the mind behind Hightown, is at the helm, and I can already tell this is going to be binge-worthy. Cobb’s world of glitz, danger, and toxic friendships seems tailor-made for the screen, and I’m excited to see how they translate all that drama to episodic form
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a fast, juicy read that’s all about messy friendships, bad decisions, and the kind of drama that makes you glad your life is boring, The Hunting Wives is a must. It’s not perfect, but it’s wildly entertaining and perfect for a weekend escape. I’m giving it a solid 8/10 for delivering all the thrills and chills I wanted.
Try it if you like:
- Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty – Suburban secrets, dangerous friendships, and enough drama to fill an ocean. This book is like a sibling to The Hunting Wives.
- The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager – If you’re into dark, twisty mysteries with flawed characters and plenty of surprises, this one’s for you.
- The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena – Another tale of messy suburban lives and the secrets people try to bury—this time with a thriller twist.
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