Scan barcode
reader4evr's review against another edition
3.0
I was really excited to find out that the Browns wrote a book because watching their show Sister Wives is one of my guilty pleasures.
I liked the way the book was set up with each wife telling their side and getting to know them better. When I was reading each separate chapter, I felt like I could actually hear them talking. I had forgot that Janelle had been married to Meri's brother and that Janelle's mom married Kody's dad. Kind of weird how everything kind of circles back to the beginning.
The one thing that I didn't like about the book is that I felt like some of the wives went on a little too much and I was just like just tell me the good stuff.
An interesting read, wish there were more pictures too.
I liked the way the book was set up with each wife telling their side and getting to know them better. When I was reading each separate chapter, I felt like I could actually hear them talking. I had forgot that Janelle had been married to Meri's brother and that Janelle's mom married Kody's dad. Kind of weird how everything kind of circles back to the beginning.
The one thing that I didn't like about the book is that I felt like some of the wives went on a little too much and I was just like just tell me the good stuff.
An interesting read, wish there were more pictures too.
jeansbookbag's review
informative
fast-paced
2.0
This recently got added back into our library’s digital catalog, and I have just finished watching the series all the way through, so I picked it up when it became available. It’s a fast read, and clearly a bit of a propaganda piece for the show, with little new information. None of them are writers, and it shows. If you don’t have much knowledge of them and/or haven’t watched much of the show, this might be an okay read, but fans won’t really learn anything new and it’s not a super compelling read.
kamrynkoble's review
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
2.0
This is a “tell some” book. There were very few details that were new after watching all eighteen seasons of the show. It is very interesting to read though knowing that only one of Kody Brown’s four wives is still with him. It’s sad, honestly. But reading this it’s so obvious why their marriage is hard and unstable and doesn’t work.
I remain horrified of Kody’s treatment of Christine and Meri. How can you have six children with a woman and insist that you’re not attracted to her and never have been? How can you claim to have never been in love with a woman at all, after writing these chapters of your romance including everyone else’s perception of this “it” couple? Kody Brown is a psychopath either way—he’s gaslighting his wives and the audience, or he is a terrifyingly convincing actor and con artist.
I would fully believe you if you told me this was the process of writing this book:
1) Make a ghost writer watch the show
2) Come up with little tidbits that weren’t in the show
3) Rinse and repeat for each subsection and each wife
It’s just lacking personality. Any bit shared in here could easily be extracted by someone watching the show, and even so, it’s all telling and no showing. Without Sister Wives I’d never be able to separate these four women from each other.
I was really hoping for more about WHY they believe this is their religious conviction. They all chose the principle, but what does that MEAN? It’s just so shallow.
If you’re a Sister Wives nut you might want to still read this, but here are the extra pieces that stuck out to me:
- Christine really did hustle after Kody and was devastated when Kody and Meri dated anyone other than her
- Christine ate some chili cheese fries and Kody lost attraction to her because of this “chubby” (his words) girl devouring chili cheese fries
- Meri and Kody had a failed courtship with a seventeen-year-old girl before Janelle joined, but that is literally all the information they give
- Christine and Meri both had fights about how the other disciplined their children. No details, of course.
- Janelle specifically has an accounting degree. I never knew what she actually did
- Robyn LOVES her some Oprah!
Yep, that’s all I can think of for now. Fighting, no money, jealousy, hard, but it all works out in the end thanks to the principle of celestial marriage 😇🙏🏻
I remain horrified of Kody’s treatment of Christine and Meri. How can you have six children with a woman and insist that you’re not attracted to her and never have been? How can you claim to have never been in love with a woman at all, after writing these chapters of your romance including everyone else’s perception of this “it” couple? Kody Brown is a psychopath either way—he’s gaslighting his wives and the audience, or he is a terrifyingly convincing actor and con artist.
I would fully believe you if you told me this was the process of writing this book:
1) Make a ghost writer watch the show
2) Come up with little tidbits that weren’t in the show
3) Rinse and repeat for each subsection and each wife
It’s just lacking personality. Any bit shared in here could easily be extracted by someone watching the show, and even so, it’s all telling and no showing. Without Sister Wives I’d never be able to separate these four women from each other.
I was really hoping for more about WHY they believe this is their religious conviction. They all chose the principle, but what does that MEAN? It’s just so shallow.
If you’re a Sister Wives nut you might want to still read this, but here are the extra pieces that stuck out to me:
- Christine really did hustle after Kody and was devastated when Kody and Meri dated anyone other than her
- Christine ate some chili cheese fries and Kody lost attraction to her because of this “chubby” (his words) girl devouring chili cheese fries
- Meri and Kody had a failed courtship with a seventeen-year-old girl before Janelle joined, but that is literally all the information they give
- Christine and Meri both had fights about how the other disciplined their children. No details, of course.
- Janelle specifically has an accounting degree. I never knew what she actually did
- Robyn LOVES her some Oprah!
Yep, that’s all I can think of for now. Fighting, no money, jealousy, hard, but it all works out in the end thanks to the principle of celestial marriage 😇🙏🏻
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry
Moderate: Miscarriage and Pregnancy
Minor: Fatphobia
emerygirl's review against another edition
4.0
My guilty pleasure...sister wives. The book goes into much more history than the show.
UPDATE October 2023:
I have read this book before, but am on a non-fiction kick as of late. I am also on a Sister Wives kick, watching as Kody went from 4 wives to one wife. It is still my guilty pleasure, and I enjoy the show (my husband asks me why, and I really can’t say. I just like watching train wrecks maybe?) I enjoyed this book the second time around even more, as it was interesting to see how the family started, thrives and then fell to pieces. If you don’t like the show, you won’t like the book. But I enjoyed it.
UPDATE October 2023:
I have read this book before, but am on a non-fiction kick as of late. I am also on a Sister Wives kick, watching as Kody went from 4 wives to one wife. It is still my guilty pleasure, and I enjoy the show (my husband asks me why, and I really can’t say. I just like watching train wrecks maybe?) I enjoyed this book the second time around even more, as it was interesting to see how the family started, thrives and then fell to pieces. If you don’t like the show, you won’t like the book. But I enjoyed it.
tduchscher's review against another edition
4.0
I give this book a high score because I enjoy the tv series and wanted to learn more about them. The book gave lots of info and I enjoyed all of their own takes on their lives. I find different cultures and beliefs interesting and this one is no different.
kaylamo35's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
2.5
flowchelle's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
It was interesting reading this book after the last season of the show and knowing every wife left Kody except Robyn! I’d absolutely read something similar with their perspectives now! I like that the wives came across even more honest about things in their past than in the show. Nothing too deep was explored but I liked getting to know more of their personal thoughts without the tv show spin!