Reviews

The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth

ajkremer's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.0

ambswds's review against another edition

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mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

em1246's review against another edition

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challenging 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? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Was not expecting much from this book so was pleasantly surprised. Thought the audio production was good too
Didn't love that the ending was so ambiguous but understand that was the author's choice

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

kspotts2010's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

rachellep's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective 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? No

4.0

tahliadowns6's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

meghan_plethoraofpages's review against another edition

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4.0

The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth

My second read by this author, and it was just as wildly entertaining and propulsive as the first. Alternating POVs, quick chapters and a whole lot of family & psychological drama, this was just the suspenseful and quick read I needed after a stretch of disappointing holiday reads.

The Aston family certainly has its share of issues; as with many books in this genre, content warnings abound (domestic violence, gaslighting, miscarriage, addiction, rape, dementia). We’re following Stephen, successful and charming doctor who is getting remarried to Heather, a significantly younger woman with a complicated past. Stephen’s wife, Pam, has advanced dementia, and has been making accusations against Stephen. Daughters Rachel & Tully have their own & combined dramas, and are not thrilled with their father’s impending marriage.

The tension & suspense is really well done. The concept of the unreliable narrator didn’t feel stale here, and I thought all the POV chapters really flowed. Marriage, motherhood, caring for an aging parent with a memory disorder are all explored.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced, speedy suspense read filled with dark family secrets, The Younger Wife is a winner. I only read a handful of novels in this genre per year and this one didn’t disappoint. The ending will be really polarizing though, and some will love it and some will not! (I felt queasy).

Thank you so much to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The Younger Wife is available April 5, 2022!

meganlmx's review against another edition

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dark slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

aclopez6's review against another edition

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4.0

Hmm, I read a few reviews because I was surprised by the low average rating. I'm thinking the ending was potentially changed from the Netgalley version? Unless I misinterpreted Pam's epilogue?

nursemelissa19's review against another edition

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emotional 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