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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
The synopsis promised revenge on sleaze bag ex-husbands. I'm always up for a story of the powerless turning the tables on the powerful. Though that is really not the main drive here.
The substrate is more about gaining agency, as three ex-wives who are tight friends come up with an app that offloads all the cumbersome, and unpaid, jobs usually done by wives, onto paid wives. While they are doing that, they are coping with their own lives, and their relationships with their children, exes, parents, and other people.
I liked the diversity here, and even though our three heroines' road to success is total wish fulfillment, within the story verse they're worked hard to get that success. (Even if the app sounds like TaskRabbit for the rich. Which doesn't actually solve the problem for most of the rest of the world, in spite of some spirited stabs in that direction.)
The substrate is more about gaining agency, as three ex-wives who are tight friends come up with an app that offloads all the cumbersome, and unpaid, jobs usually done by wives, onto paid wives. While they are doing that, they are coping with their own lives, and their relationships with their children, exes, parents, and other people.
I liked the diversity here, and even though our three heroines' road to success is total wish fulfillment, within the story verse they're worked hard to get that success. (Even if the app sounds like TaskRabbit for the rich. Which doesn't actually solve the problem for most of the rest of the world, in spite of some spirited stabs in that direction.)
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall, I found this book to be an interesting and enjoyable read. It offers a refreshing exploration of under-appreciated women who are not only managing invisible labor but also navigating the challenges of personal growth and motherhood. While the execution had moments where it felt a bit drawn-out and slow, the novel’s dramatic elements kept me engaged throughout.
Plot Thoughts: The book’s concept really hit home for me. It captures the mental load many of us juggle daily and how it impacts the physical and emotional aspects of our lives as well. I felt an extra wave of gratitude for my supportive partner as I read, that’s for sure! I enjoyed that the plot was just unique enough to offer fresh takes on familiar themes.
Character Thoughts: The characters in this book are a well-crafted mix of likable and unlikeable, supportive and unsupportive that made for a well balanced story. I particularly enjoyed how the children were integral to the plot, driving the motivations of the mothers without overshadowing the fact that, in the end, this is a book for and about the women. While I didn’t form strong attachments to any characters, their development was engaging enough to keep my interest throughout the book.
👍🏻Would recommend.
Big thanks to @simonbooks for the free copy!
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was an interesting story. I love books with female leads that are in a male-dominant field. I learned a lot about tech start ups, and I was inspired by the characters for what they were doing with their lives.
I’m not sure I would be a Wife if a real Wife app did exist. I wouldn’t want to take on tasks that men are too lazy to accomplish themselves, even if I were being paid for it. I don’t even like completing tasks for myself. Why would I do it for others?
But what I will say is that the idea for the app is a good one because it helps women (and men) across the city. It assists them with their mental load.
The worst character in the story was Joshua. He was a total DICK! He treated his ex and new wife like trash. He did not have respect for either of them. I am so glad they both divorced him; it’s what he deserved. On top of all that, he was a freeloader too. He didn’t do anything to make money.
Eric was pretty horrible too! Not as bad as Joshua, but he still sucked. Cheating is never cool, especially if you’re paying for the sex. That’s just dirty. Glad Lauren divorced him. Shows that she has dignity and self-respect, which are important to have.
I have noticed character growth with all the characters, especially with Madeline’s daughter, Arabella. She treated her mother terribly in the beginning, and has apologized in the end. She felt guilty about the way she’s been acting and she finally told her mother why she wanted to live with her dad in London for a year. The other characters changed too, which is always great.
Overall, the book was good. It had a satisfying ending. 👍🏼👍🏼
Thursday, August 8, 2024 at 1:20 PM
I’m not sure I would be a Wife if a real Wife app did exist. I wouldn’t want to take on tasks that men are too lazy to accomplish themselves, even if I were being paid for it. I don’t even like completing tasks for myself. Why would I do it for others?
But what I will say is that the idea for the app is a good one because it helps women (and men) across the city. It assists them with their mental load.
The worst character in the story was Joshua. He was a total DICK! He treated his ex and new wife like trash. He did not have respect for either of them. I am so glad they both divorced him; it’s what he deserved. On top of all that, he was a freeloader too. He didn’t do anything to make money.
Eric was pretty horrible too! Not as bad as Joshua, but he still sucked. Cheating is never cool, especially if you’re paying for the sex. That’s just dirty. Glad Lauren divorced him. Shows that she has dignity and self-respect, which are important to have.
I have noticed character growth with all the characters, especially with Madeline’s daughter, Arabella. She treated her mother terribly in the beginning, and has apologized in the end. She felt guilty about the way she’s been acting and she finally told her mother why she wanted to live with her dad in London for a year. The other characters changed too, which is always great.
Overall, the book was good. It had a satisfying ending. 👍🏼👍🏼
Thursday, August 8, 2024 at 1:20 PM
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Wife App by Carolyn Mackler is a humorous contemporary women's fiction novel, and the author's adult debut.
Tired of being undervalued for their hard work and emotional labor, three divorced women and best friends create an app to stick it to their ex-husbands and monetize Mental Load. Wife work is absolutely work. Revenge and redemption are priceless.
This was heavily consumable, and I didn't want to put it down! I was surprised to hear that this book is the author's adult debut, and they typically write for YA audiences.
If you're a mom, you should definitely read this book. I am not yet a mother, but I especially liked how she wrote the main three women in our featured friend group and how they interacted with their children.
I identified with most of them, and had some flash backs to relationships I've had in the past where I carried the majority of the Mental Load. The woman I least identified with was Madeline, but I appreciated some discussion about privilege through her story line.
There is some good queer representation in the novel as well. One of our core three characters is queer, and several side characters are as well. Some are brief mentions of a classmate who has "two dads," but things like that are lovely to see as just normal. There's also a great storyline with one of the moms helping out their child who is questioning their gender identity. Additionally, on the Wife App, men and nonbinary people are also free to become Wives.
I would love to watch a movie version of this.
CW: infidelity, drug use (mentioned, off page)
I received a copy of this book to review. All opinions contained herein are my own.
If you want to see more from me, check out my blog, Bookstagram, TheStoryGraph, or Twitter.
Tired of being undervalued for their hard work and emotional labor, three divorced women and best friends create an app to stick it to their ex-husbands and monetize Mental Load. Wife work is absolutely work. Revenge and redemption are priceless.
This was heavily consumable, and I didn't want to put it down! I was surprised to hear that this book is the author's adult debut, and they typically write for YA audiences.
If you're a mom, you should definitely read this book. I am not yet a mother, but I especially liked how she wrote the main three women in our featured friend group and how they interacted with their children.
I identified with most of them, and had some flash backs to relationships I've had in the past where I carried the majority of the Mental Load. The woman I least identified with was Madeline, but I appreciated some discussion about privilege through her story line.
There is some good queer representation in the novel as well. One of our core three characters is queer, and several side characters are as well. Some are brief mentions of a classmate who has "two dads," but things like that are lovely to see as just normal. There's also a great storyline with one of the moms helping out their child who is questioning their gender identity. Additionally, on the Wife App, men and nonbinary people are also free to become Wives.
I would love to watch a movie version of this.
CW: infidelity, drug use (mentioned, off page)
I received a copy of this book to review. All opinions contained herein are my own.
If you want to see more from me, check out my blog, Bookstagram, TheStoryGraph, or Twitter.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I won this book from a Goodreads Giveaway. I am quite happy that I did because this is not a book I would have picked up on my own, and I enjoyed it and am happy to have read it.
The premise is interesting and I really related to the personalities and inner monologues of the three main characters. There were several plot points that ended up feeling unresolved, and the ending felt a little rushed to tie everything up, so the last 50 or so pages lost me a little bit.
Overall, the personal journeys that the three women go through was believable and entertaining. I would happily recommend this book to anyone who is in the mood for a low-stakes, satisfying read.
The premise is interesting and I really related to the personalities and inner monologues of the three main characters. There were several plot points that ended up feeling unresolved, and the ending felt a little rushed to tie everything up, so the last 50 or so pages lost me a little bit.
Overall, the personal journeys that the three women go through was believable and entertaining. I would happily recommend this book to anyone who is in the mood for a low-stakes, satisfying read.