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sannemus's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book had me hooked and I though it would at least be a four star read, however the ending was just kind of... blah, dull, pointless?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Rape and Addiction
jordannecoote's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Originally I thought this book would be like a trash novel of a young woman marrying an older man somewhat like a sugar daddy, however it is very different to what I thought, I wouldn’t say it is terrible but it should have like trigger warnings on it for people experiencing or have experienced certain elements of what is mentioned throughout. I would rate 3/5, has some good elements although predictable.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Addiction, Dementia, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, and Murder
madluck's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Miscarriage, Death, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Blood, Abortion, Alcoholism, Addiction, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Rape
aridd1's review
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, and Dementia
beckyremillard's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Chapter 1: Someone is injured or killed at a wedding.
Chapter 2, etc: goes back in time and we meet the characters who were in the back of the church where the incident occurred, including Rachel, Tully, their father, Stephen, his new bride, Heather, and his ex wife, Pam.
The perspectives are primarily Rachel, Tully, and Pam, although the wedding scenes are mostly from the perspective of an unknown wedding guest. Most of the story is leading up to the wedding, but every once and a while we get a bit from the wedding.
This book is well written but I wouldn’t call it a thriller. It’s pretty anti-climactic and there weren’t really any twists or surprises. I kept waiting for something unexpected to happen but it definitely didn’t. Not my favorite from this author.
Chapter 2, etc: goes back in time and we meet the characters who were in the back of the church where the incident occurred, including Rachel, Tully, their father, Stephen, his new bride, Heather, and his ex wife, Pam.
The perspectives are primarily Rachel, Tully, and Pam, although the wedding scenes are mostly from the perspective of an unknown wedding guest. Most of the story is leading up to the wedding, but every once and a while we get a bit from the wedding.
This book is well written but I wouldn’t call it a thriller. It’s pretty anti-climactic and there weren’t really any twists or surprises. I kept waiting for something unexpected to happen but it definitely didn’t. Not my favorite from this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Dementia, Gaslighting, Addiction, Death of parent, Murder, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Toxic relationship
shereadsmysteries's review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Alcohol, and Dementia
Moderate: Miscarriage, Blood, Death of parent, Addiction, Sexual assault, Rape, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Grief, Child abuse, and Infidelity
crose84's review
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5 Stars. A predictable but still engaging thriller.
TW: gaslighting, domestic violence, Alzheimer’s, alcoholism
TW: gaslighting, domestic violence, Alzheimer’s, alcoholism
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Rape
Moderate: Addiction and Alcoholism
janjanjukebox's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth 352 pages, 9 hours and 19 minutes narrated by Barrie Kreinik, Caroline Lee, Jessica Douglas-Henry, and Zoe Carides
Genre: Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Contemporary, Adult Fiction, Family
Featuring: Melbourne, Australia; May-December Romance, Adult Children, Wedding, Who-Done-It, Sex off camera, Assault - off camera, Dual Timelines, Multiple POVs
Rating as a movie: PG-13 for adult content
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
My thoughts: 14% - It's slower than usual, even for a domestic suspense.
90% - This book really takes off during chapters 5-7. I would have read it straight through but I need to spend some time with my family. I can't wait to go to bed.
90% - This book really takes off during chapters 5-7. I would have read it straight through but I need to spend some time with my family. I can't wait to go to bed.
This wasn't much of a Mystery Thriller in my book. It was a good Domestic Suspense. I pretty much had it figured out early on and I was almost right. I didn't care in the end because the unexpected side stories were really good. I knew this book was 4 stars around 40% and I held that view till the end. I loved the story the author gave at the end about what inspired her to write this story, it's often the best part of her books but it did not affect my rating. She even admitted some of her stories have been disappointing, I'm happy to report this was not one of them and I'm sure she was speaking of her earlier work anyway.
Recommend to others?: Maybe. If you enjoy domestic suspense read this book, if you need a psychological or crime thriller you may want to skip this one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Addiction, Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Alcoholism
marla_reads's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Oh man. Am I really supposed to have an opinion on this book? Because I am conflicted!
We have an older surgeon marrying his new, much younger girlfriend. Only problem? He must first divorce his current wife- who can no longer speak for herself. Gasp.
My points:
The Younger Wife grabbed my attention from the very first page. I needed to know what happened next. The characters in this book were pretty hard to like. You have this family that looks perfect from the outside but they are actually the biggest hot mess express. I just wanted to force them all into therapy.
Worst of all? The end.
Be sure to check the long list or triggers on this one. It might be hard for a whole bunch of people.
Funny enough, I gave this one four stars right after I finished it. I guess I’m mostly conflicted upon reflection. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of The Younger Wife. It publishes on April 5, 2022.
We have an older surgeon marrying his new, much younger girlfriend. Only problem? He must first divorce his current wife- who can no longer speak for herself. Gasp.
My points:
The Younger Wife grabbed my attention from the very first page. I needed to know what happened next. The characters in this book were pretty hard to like. You have this family that looks perfect from the outside but they are actually the biggest hot mess express. I just wanted to force them all into therapy.
Worst of all? The end.
Be sure to check the long list or triggers on this one. It might be hard for a whole bunch of people.
Funny enough, I gave this one four stars right after I finished it. I guess I’m mostly conflicted upon reflection. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of The Younger Wife. It publishes on April 5, 2022.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Domestic abuse, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Murder and Rape
imzadi481's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
My first instinct after finishing this book was to give 4 stars instead of the 5 I thought I was going to give it. Why? Because the ending let me down a little bit. It wasn't major, but I was hoping for a neat little bow and I didn't get that. After sleeping on it, however, I felt I needed to give this the 5 stars it deserves.
No, it's not the greatest literary work of all time. However, the writing flowed like butter and I didn't want to put down the book. For me, that's all I need to rate this a 5.
There are tough moments, tender moments, funny moments. The characters are flawed and extremely likeable.
In the end, I think the ending was quite fitting.
No, it's not the greatest literary work of all time. However, the writing flowed like butter and I didn't want to put down the book. For me, that's all I need to rate this a 5.
There are tough moments, tender moments, funny moments. The characters are flawed and extremely likeable.
In the end, I think the ending was quite fitting.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Addiction, Physical abuse, and Rape
Minor: Miscarriage