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3.28 AVERAGE
3.28 AVERAGE
Review to come. As soon as I figure out wtf to even say to this!
2.5 stars
Things were just lacking in this book - like plausibility and cohesion, but because it had great potential and held my interest long enough for me to finish the book, I increased rating by 1/2 star.
Things were just lacking in this book - like plausibility and cohesion, but because it had great potential and held my interest long enough for me to finish the book, I increased rating by 1/2 star.
dark
mysterious
medium-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
Yeah I pretty much saw all the twists coming. Not a bad thriller for beginners but definitely not my favorite.
Claire Wescott is married to Byron, a professor at a liberal arts college in Ohio. She’s his second wife and is starting to question if his change in behavior towards her means something...is it a sign that he’s seeing someone else. Claire thinks a baby will be the answer though she’s got fertility issues. As she pursues that direction, she’s also trying to figure out if there’s a “who” responsible for his distraction.
From the start, I knew I was dealing with an unreliable narrator because Claire has some serious issues! And, the prologue introduces someone, anonymous, who’s always in the background and I was never quite sure where to place her...past or present, good or evil, real or imagined. Then there’s Colleen, Byron’s first wife, who has a large presence in the story. She disappeared years ago, presumed dead by suicide. The narrative is Claire’s and it’s an uncomfortable place to be in as she grapples with self doubt, body image issues and her writing failures. I didn’t like her very much though I had empathy for her situation. I went back and forth about Byron because I only had Claire’s point of view.
Because of my struggles with Claire, I had mixed feelings about this story. I had a hard time resuming reading after breaks because I didn’t want to be back in her head. But, there came a point where things shifted and it became a seriously intriguing puzzle I had to solve. I got there but was still surprised by one final twist. I’m glad I hung in there because being off balance is part of the story’s allure. If you don’t get hung up on how you feel about the narrator, you’ll appreciate the journey and the payoff. I’m still thinking about that ending. 3.5 stars
(Thanks to NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
From the start, I knew I was dealing with an unreliable narrator because Claire has some serious issues! And, the prologue introduces someone, anonymous, who’s always in the background and I was never quite sure where to place her...past or present, good or evil, real or imagined. Then there’s Colleen, Byron’s first wife, who has a large presence in the story. She disappeared years ago, presumed dead by suicide. The narrative is Claire’s and it’s an uncomfortable place to be in as she grapples with self doubt, body image issues and her writing failures. I didn’t like her very much though I had empathy for her situation. I went back and forth about Byron because I only had Claire’s point of view.
Because of my struggles with Claire, I had mixed feelings about this story. I had a hard time resuming reading after breaks because I didn’t want to be back in her head. But, there came a point where things shifted and it became a seriously intriguing puzzle I had to solve. I got there but was still surprised by one final twist. I’m glad I hung in there because being off balance is part of the story’s allure. If you don’t get hung up on how you feel about the narrator, you’ll appreciate the journey and the payoff. I’m still thinking about that ending. 3.5 stars
(Thanks to NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
I don't think the events at the beginning fit with the plot twist at all.
However, this was fun and fast-paced so I did enjoy it.
Spoiler
If Claire killer Colleen, why is she spending half the book looking for her killer?However, this was fun and fast-paced so I did enjoy it.
Nina Laurin. author of Girl Last Seen and What My Sister Knew, employs plot twists, surprising developments, and misdirection to maximum effect to compel The Starter Wife forward as readers try to discern the difference between reality and her unreliable lead character's imagination.
Colleen Westcott's disappearance has never been fully solved. Was it murder? Suicide? Or is she still alive, but missing? Her body has never been recovered. Claire Westcott is married to Colleen's husband, Byron, a professor of literature at the same small college where Colleen also taught. Bryon was, of course, a person of interest in the investigation into Colleen's death, but no charges were ever brought against him. Claire and Byron began dating five years ago after they met at an alumni event. Claire had been one of his students. They married after a whirlwind courtship, and Claire is supposed to be writing a book while Byron is teaching, but the rejections from publishers are numerous and continuing to arrive.
Through a first-person narrative, Claire describes her life with Byron and what it's like to live in the shadow of his presumably dead first wife. Her paintings hang on virtually every wall of the house she shares with Byron -- the one in which he resided with Colleen. The same furniture fills the home, including their bedroom. Claire relates, "Colleen may have died but she never left." Their attempts to have a child have not been successful, Claire is drinking far too much, and it appears that Byron has lost interest in and patience with her. He is spending more and more time away from home, and when he's there, he's distant. Claire suspects that he is having an affair with one of his students.
Against that backdrop, in addition to receiving a telephone call that Claire is convinced is from Colleen, she receives an email that simply disappears from her in-box. Desperate to hold onto Byron and their marriage, Claire becomes determined to solve the mystery of Colleen's disappearance. She also follows the young coed with whom she thinks Byron has been unfaithful, and confides in one of his colleagues. But when she proposes and tries to lure him into an elaborate scheme to obtain hormone treatments in an unhinged attempt to conceive a child, the colleague is understandably alarmed and bolts. A narrative from an unidentified third party, addressing Byron, appears to be the voice of someone stalking Claire. Who is she?
Laurin keeps readers off-balance as she takes them on an uncomfortable journey into Claire's thoughts. Claire struggles with self-doubt related to body image and her failure to succeed as a writer, in addition to the stress of living with a husband who seems to have never gotten past his first wife's disappearance. Is Claire merely a stand-in wife to Byron? Or does he really love her, but is emotionally unable to fully move forward with his life after the trauma of losing his first wife? Since Byron is obviously damaged and unable to fully commit himself to their marriage, why is Claire so obsessed with him and hellbent on staying in the relationship?
Whether Claire is a victim or a very disturbed villain is unclear until her estranged sister arrives, and the truth about Claire's past is gradually revealed. From that juncture, the book's pace accelerates and the story races to an explosive conclusion.
Laurin distinguishes herself in a crowded field of female authors publishing psychological thrillers. Although none of Laurin's characters are particularly likable, each is fascinating in her/her own right, and The Starter Wife is entertaining. She clearly enjoys presenting a fact with certainty, only to insert doubt a few chapters later, and employs that technique expertly in this story. Right up to the end of the book, in fact, which readers should not be surprised to find mired in ambiguity and intertwined in the sly commentary Laurin injects about social media through the depiction of chatter among Byron's students on an internet forum. The Starter Wife is an excellent choice for a summer afternoon read by the pool or on the beach, as well as a book club discussion.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book.
Colleen Westcott's disappearance has never been fully solved. Was it murder? Suicide? Or is she still alive, but missing? Her body has never been recovered. Claire Westcott is married to Colleen's husband, Byron, a professor of literature at the same small college where Colleen also taught. Bryon was, of course, a person of interest in the investigation into Colleen's death, but no charges were ever brought against him. Claire and Byron began dating five years ago after they met at an alumni event. Claire had been one of his students. They married after a whirlwind courtship, and Claire is supposed to be writing a book while Byron is teaching, but the rejections from publishers are numerous and continuing to arrive.
Through a first-person narrative, Claire describes her life with Byron and what it's like to live in the shadow of his presumably dead first wife. Her paintings hang on virtually every wall of the house she shares with Byron -- the one in which he resided with Colleen. The same furniture fills the home, including their bedroom. Claire relates, "Colleen may have died but she never left." Their attempts to have a child have not been successful, Claire is drinking far too much, and it appears that Byron has lost interest in and patience with her. He is spending more and more time away from home, and when he's there, he's distant. Claire suspects that he is having an affair with one of his students.
Against that backdrop, in addition to receiving a telephone call that Claire is convinced is from Colleen, she receives an email that simply disappears from her in-box. Desperate to hold onto Byron and their marriage, Claire becomes determined to solve the mystery of Colleen's disappearance. She also follows the young coed with whom she thinks Byron has been unfaithful, and confides in one of his colleagues. But when she proposes and tries to lure him into an elaborate scheme to obtain hormone treatments in an unhinged attempt to conceive a child, the colleague is understandably alarmed and bolts. A narrative from an unidentified third party, addressing Byron, appears to be the voice of someone stalking Claire. Who is she?
Laurin keeps readers off-balance as she takes them on an uncomfortable journey into Claire's thoughts. Claire struggles with self-doubt related to body image and her failure to succeed as a writer, in addition to the stress of living with a husband who seems to have never gotten past his first wife's disappearance. Is Claire merely a stand-in wife to Byron? Or does he really love her, but is emotionally unable to fully move forward with his life after the trauma of losing his first wife? Since Byron is obviously damaged and unable to fully commit himself to their marriage, why is Claire so obsessed with him and hellbent on staying in the relationship?
Whether Claire is a victim or a very disturbed villain is unclear until her estranged sister arrives, and the truth about Claire's past is gradually revealed. From that juncture, the book's pace accelerates and the story races to an explosive conclusion.
Laurin distinguishes herself in a crowded field of female authors publishing psychological thrillers. Although none of Laurin's characters are particularly likable, each is fascinating in her/her own right, and The Starter Wife is entertaining. She clearly enjoys presenting a fact with certainty, only to insert doubt a few chapters later, and employs that technique expertly in this story. Right up to the end of the book, in fact, which readers should not be surprised to find mired in ambiguity and intertwined in the sly commentary Laurin injects about social media through the depiction of chatter among Byron's students on an internet forum. The Starter Wife is an excellent choice for a summer afternoon read by the pool or on the beach, as well as a book club discussion.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book.
I couldn’t put this psychological thriller down! It reminded me of The Wife Between Us. What is the real story behind Mrs. Westcott and her professor husband Byron? Do they have the perfect marriage? Did he murder his first wife? Is someone stalking her? Or, is she just going crazy?
It took me a few chapters to get into this one, but once I did, I didn’t want to put it down. Enthralling, disturbing, surprising, and masterfully written. Several times I had to go back to read a section again, and there were a few times that I set it down to process what was occurring in the book. Very entertaining and kept me on my toes for most of the story.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. The opinions shared are my own.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. The opinions shared are my own.
The Starter Wife is a refreshing new thriller that I finished in a few hours. Highly enjoyable, quick read. Also recommend this author’s other books.
They will all think I’m crazy, insane, psychotic, but what else is love but madness? Isn’t that what all the great novels are about?
I was totally enthralled by the book from the very beginning. The writing made the characters come to life easily and with power. The twist at the end was something I didn’t expect. I liked how the book went through different narratives...one of my favourite types of thrillers.
The story was very engrossing. This book is packed with so many layers, each one carefully developed and shown to the reader in perfect timing. It is so much more than just the story of a husband and wife, each character matters and is intertwined brilliantly.
For me, this turned out to be a quick read because I tore through it eager to know. It was written with such clever simplicity, which I really appreciated. No need for crowded characters or dramatic laborious environments. I liked the style, the pace and the way the author would feed you tidbits at a time; crumbling you along for more. This is the third book, of hopefully many more, I have read from Nina Laurin. She always manages to hold my interest from the first page till the end.
Thank you NetGalley, Nina Laurin and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an impartial review; all opinions are my own.
#TheStarterWife #NetGalley
All my reviews can be found on my blog: https://shelleyann01.blogspot.com/