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elliesimpson's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
cmbohn's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
4.0
What a ride! Some juicy drama in here. Really a good read. Hepworth is a reliably good time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Violence, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Miscarriage, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Eating disorder, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, and Alcohol
Minor: Rape and Murder
books_in_badgerland's review
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.5
audiobook review
My newfound love and backlist consumption of Sally Hepworth's books led me to The Younger Wife. I'm thoroughly enjoying her family dramas with mysterious elements. I feel like they can be recommended to readers of a lot of genres. The topics are tough but important and likely relatable to many readers.
This book may be a good fit if you enjoy:
- complex family dynamics
- wondering who to trust
- books about women overcoming obstacles
I enjoyed The Younger Wife, but I'm not obsessed like I was with Darling Girls and The Mother-In-Law. 😆 It's natural as we catch up on author's work that we will connect more with some than others.
I always appreciate a full cast audiobook and plan to binge all of Hepworth's books on audio as I catch up. The narrators have been top notch! The stories are relatively straightforward, so I think they work well with this format. If you're looking to try mysteries on audio, her books could be a good place to start!
Rating: I liked it! (3.5)
My newfound love and backlist consumption of Sally Hepworth's books led me to The Younger Wife. I'm thoroughly enjoying her family dramas with mysterious elements. I feel like they can be recommended to readers of a lot of genres. The topics are tough but important and likely relatable to many readers.
This book may be a good fit if you enjoy:
- complex family dynamics
- wondering who to trust
- books about women overcoming obstacles
I enjoyed The Younger Wife, but I'm not obsessed like I was with Darling Girls and The Mother-In-Law. 😆 It's natural as we catch up on author's work that we will connect more with some than others.
I always appreciate a full cast audiobook and plan to binge all of Hepworth's books on audio as I catch up. The narrators have been top notch! The stories are relatively straightforward, so I think they work well with this format. If you're looking to try mysteries on audio, her books could be a good place to start!
Rating: I liked it! (3.5)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Dementia
Minor: Sexual assault
jilliancarrizosa's review against another edition
fast-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexual assault
alliereads_'s review against another edition
dark
tense
1.5
An easy read, but pretty on the nose and unimaginative, with no real payoff. There was too much explanation of the characters’ psychology instead of showing it through action.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Rape
anneclareivy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Sexual assault and Domestic abuse
Minor: Alcoholism, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Eating disorder
stephaniealysse's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Mental illness, and Dementia
Moderate: Rape, Eating disorder, and Alcoholism
hsteel's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, and Domestic abuse
stungbythewood's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I honestly don’t know how I feel about this book. It was an entertaining read, but that’s the only opinion I walk away with after finishing it.
I have mixed feelings about the whole thing and am left feeling unsatisfied.
I had some difficulty trying to describe what problems I had exactly with the characters when another reviewer had done so perfectly and it’s that these characters are characterized by their vices and that’s it…
I’ve found that this in particular made it difficult for me to like two out of the three very prominent female cast in this book. I felt like those struggles is all that those characters really were, besides being loving family members to Stephen. They don’t really feel like full fleshed out people, just tropes and stereotypes.
A lot of it just feels unrealistic? I’m aware that the brain can repress memories that are traumatic in an attempt to protect itself, but it seems like the recollections both Rachel and Tully have in regards to their father’s abuse are just for plot convenience and not due to an actual recalling of a traumatizing event in their lives.
I also think Heather making up that fake story in an attempt to confront Rachel about her rape was wildly inappropriate,
and quite frankly, none of Heather’s damn business no matter how well seeming she tried to come off.
I also don’t appreciate how Rachel’s assault gets kind of glosses over toward the end of the book. Where Tully has resources available and it’s mentioned that her and her son are seeing specialists to help with their issues, Rachel gets with Darcy and suddenly everything is bright and shiny again.
I don’t want to say that it isn’t possible but :/ it feels very unrealistic for Rachel to have ignored this trauma for over fifteen years then suddenly she’s dating Darcy and things are okay.
What was the point of Fiona Arthur? Her character felt very under utilized as well.
Some positives, this book kept me engrossed, I finished it in two days which is a quick read for me, and I liked how most of the chapters were short. I find that longer chapters tend to feel more laborious to read.
At the end of it all, I have more questions than answers and am left with more confusion than clarity. I’ve heard some positive things about her other books in other reviews so I’m willing to give those a shot.
I have mixed feelings about the whole thing and am left feeling unsatisfied.
I had some difficulty trying to describe what problems I had exactly with the characters when another reviewer had done so perfectly and it’s that these characters are characterized by their vices and that’s it…
I’ve found that this in particular made it difficult for me to like two out of the three very prominent female cast in this book. I felt like those struggles is all that those characters really were, besides being loving family members to Stephen. They don’t really feel like full fleshed out people, just tropes and stereotypes.
I also think Heather making up that fake story in an attempt to confront Rachel about her rape was wildly inappropriate,
and quite frankly, none of Heather’s damn business no matter how well seeming she tried to come off.
I also don’t appreciate how Rachel’s assault gets kind of glosses over toward the end of the book. Where Tully has resources available and it’s mentioned that her and her son are seeing specialists to help with their issues, Rachel gets with Darcy and suddenly everything is bright and shiny again.
I don’t want to say that it isn’t possible but :/ it feels very unrealistic for Rachel to have ignored this trauma for over fifteen years then suddenly she’s dating Darcy and things are okay.
What was the point of Fiona Arthur? Her character felt very under utilized as well.
Some positives, this book kept me engrossed, I finished it in two days which is a quick read for me, and I liked how most of the chapters were short. I find that longer chapters tend to feel more laborious to read.
At the end of it all, I have more questions than answers and am left with more confusion than clarity. I’ve heard some positive things about her other books in other reviews so I’m willing to give those a shot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Rape, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, and Alcoholism
edhyndman's review
dark
mysterious
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: Alcoholism, Murder, and Domestic abuse