Book Review: Say It Again by Catherine Bybee

In “Say It Again,” the final installment of the “First Wives” series, readers finally get to know Sasha Budanov, the mysterious girl in black who also happens to be a master of disguises. She’s not anyone’s “First Wife,” and this fifth book was not in the original plan.

But, as Catherine Bybee said in an interview, “The first four books in the series were going to be it. However, Sasha commanded attention the first moment she walked on the page and I couldn’t get enough of her once I dreamed her up.” So, here we are with “Say It Again,” a highly anticipated final book of the series that more than lives up to its promise.

“Say It Again” opens with a footloose Sasha who suddenly did not have any directions after all four members of the First Wives club are happily married and starting their own families. With nothing to do, she found herself at the gates of her alma mater, Richter, the boarding school which was her home since she was 9 years old until she graduated from college.

Taking temporary residence at the dorms, Sasha found Richter the same with very little changes. And the change was more of because she was an alumna, hence she had more freedom. Still, old habits die hard so Sasha continued the secretive ways she developed while she was a student.

In a night out in town, Sasha crossed path with AJ Hofmann whose sister Amelia also studied at Richter and was murdered less than a month ago. AJ believed that there was a connection between Amelia’s death and Richter. Sasha told AJ he was grasping at straws.

But two of Amelia’s roommates at Richter suddenly died. Sasha did not believe in coincidences and decided to help AJ. But that help came at a hefty price. It might cost them their lives and more importantly, it might cost Sasha’s heart.

“SSay It Again” is first and foremost a mystery thriller. Amelia’s death is a mystery onto itself; but as Sasha dug deeper, Richter was turning out to be ground zero instead of Washington DC where Amelia was killed.

Still, as the story continued, Sasha slowly evolved as she dared to feel love and being loved back. Hence, as Richter’s secrets were unveiled, Sasha’s emotions were also bared to the readers. The James Bond element of the story stayed until the end, but it also became a story of Sasha finding herself, her family and her forever man.

I read the ARC of this book but waited for its release before I write a review because Emma Wilder is named as the narrator for the audiobook. I truly enjoyed the first four books which she also narrated. And I’m so happy that she narrated “Say It Again.” Another great performance by Emma Wilder!

“Say It Again” is Rated M for Mature due to violence and sexual content.

Image credits: US Capitol Building photo by Skeeze; Private Jet photo by JayJay V; Girl in black photo by Khusen Rustamov; all on Pixabay.