Author Kaira Rouda Sends a Couple on a Thrilling 'Cat-and-Mouse' Game in Jill Is Not Happy — See the Cover! (Exclusive)

Bestselling author Kaira Rouda is masterful in the suspense genre, as seen with her novels The Widow, Somebody’s Home and Beneath the Surface — and we have an exclusive first look at her upcoming release.

Rouda shared the cover of her forthcoming thriller, Jill Is Not Happy, exclusively with PEOPLE. The book will hit shelves in summer 2025 via Scarlet/Penzler Publishing.

The new novel follows Jill Tingley, who seemingly has the perfect life with her husband, Jack, in California. Despite their wealth and popularity, the couple finds themselves growing distant, especially with their daughter away at college. Jill suggests a road trip to Utah to shake up their routine.

What Jill doesn’t know is that Jack plans to file for divorce once the trip is over, as a horrible secret from the couple’s past has been the only thing keeping their marriage together. Jill, however, has a dark secret of her own — and isn’t willing to give up her husband so easily. What follows is a twisted “cat-and-mouse game” between the couple, who are both determined to get what they want.

Per a press release shared with PEOPLE, the author, who has “been happily married to her husband for more than 30 years,” got the idea for the novel while on a road trip herself. She asked, herself, “What would it be like to take this same drive with your partner, where you’re feeling more than a little unhinged and desperately at odds with him? And what if all the secrets you’ve worked so hard to keep buried became exposed?”

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Jill Is Not Happy “promises to shock, surprise and satisfy with its unflinching depiction of a longtime married couple at war, and just how far they’ll go to outwit and outplay each other,” teases a press release.

Read an exclusive excerpt from Jill is Not Happy below.

I wait for the waitress to walk past us with a plate of eggs and sausage, and my stomach growls. I do need to remember to eat.

“Okay, I guess I can tell you. The truth is, Jack’s depressed. I don’t know if it’s the election or something else. Even though he looks the same on the outside, let’s just say, he’s not the Jack I fell in love with. He tries, he does, but it seems like one of the only places we’re connecting right now is the bedroom.”

“Oh, dear, I’m so sorry. What can I do?” Michelle asks.

“Nothing. He’ll have to tackle this himself, with my help,” I answer.

“Depression is serious, Jill. The number of calls to suicide hotlines is skyrocketing.”

Yes, I know. I allow a tear to spill over onto my cheek before quickly swiping at it with my napkin. “Oh, it’s not that bad, really, he just needs to figure out what’s next and then I’m sure he’ll be fine,” I say. “I’m helping him every step of the way. Don’t worry.”

Michelle’s happy face falls with concern. She nods doubtfully. I feel bad about that, I really do.

“We’re finally going to take that road trip to Utah’s national parks,” I say. “We leave in the morning.”

“You’ve been talking about getting away for a while. I’m glad you’re doing it. A trip is the perfect solution. Get out of the rut of being at home and get outside.” Michelle nods vigorously, brightening again. “When we snuck away to Big Sur last winter, it was life-changing. You never know how much stress and worry you’re holding until you get away. My neck had been so tense and now, look, I can turn it again.” She demonstrates, her brown hair spinning across her shoulders.

“Yes, it will be lovely to get away,” I say.

“I mean, in Big Sur, we finally had sex again without teenage boys around.” She takes a sip of coffee. “I need to go back.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

I smile at my friend, and she pats my hand.

“Yes, well, it should help lighten Jack’s mood. Sunshine, fresh air. Nothing better. I’m excited to hike and talk, to reconnect outside the bedroom.”

“I’m sure it will be just what the doctor ordered. You two are so lucky. You always have been the golden couple,” she says. “Like a fairy tale.” I love that she sees the best, the brightest, in people.

Even when she shouldn’t.

“Jack and Jill is a nursery rhyme,” I remind her. “Not a fairy tale.”

“Same same,” she says. All’s well, or will be, she’s decided, despite Jack’s election loss and subsequent bout of depression. I’m certain she’ll tell her husband about that. Jack Tingley has never before had anything to be sad about, as far as most people are concerned. That’s good gossip.

“I better get going. A lot of packing to do,” I say. “I haven’t been hiking for years, or to a national park. Neither has Jack.”

“You’ll love it,” Michelle says. “Go on, I’ll get the check. And I’ll expect to hear all about it when you get back. Have some romance for me.”

“Oh, don’t worry, we will.” I blow her a kiss and hurry out of the café, pleased with myself. Experts say you should tell someone where you’re going when you’re heading out into the wilderness in case you get lost or into trouble.

In case you need to be rescued. We’re good at getting ourselves out of trouble as long as we stick together. That’s the part I’m worried about though.

The togetherness.

Copyright © 2024 by Kaira Rouda

Jill Is Not Happy will be published on June 10, 2025 and is now available for preorder, wherever books are sold.