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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
Took me a year and I still remember almost nothing
Eh
As a story it’s barely a 3.
Compared to other similar books with human-like AI droids it’s barely a 2. For a psychological thriller it almost doesn’t register. There was, however, terrific indirect social commentary on misogyny, especially in heteronormative marriage.
OVERALL
The Perfect Wife by JP Delaney is far superior and more worth your time.
SUMMARY (this could be a spoiler not sure):
husband leaves scientist wife for her clone. clone becomes pregnant (this isn’t supposed to happen) and later, kills husband in self-defense. Scientist ex-wife helps cover it up to protect her work and career.
As a story it’s barely a 3.
Compared to other similar books with human-like AI droids it’s barely a 2. For a psychological thriller it almost doesn’t register. There was, however, terrific indirect social commentary on misogyny, especially in heteronormative marriage.
OVERALL
The Perfect Wife by JP Delaney is far superior and more worth your time.
SUMMARY (this could be a spoiler not sure):
husband leaves scientist wife for her clone. clone becomes pregnant (this isn’t supposed to happen) and later, kills husband in self-defense. Scientist ex-wife helps cover it up to protect her work and career.
Sarah Gailey is one of those authors that I’ve come to blindly trust that whatever they write is going to be something I want to read. I was not disappointed. A very compelling read.
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another Sarah Gailey book that I thoroughly enjoyed. This one explores deeper themes of identity, fidelity, and agency through the lens of human cloning. Our narrator, Evelyn Caldwell, is a pioneer in the scientific field having perfected the process of human cloning and conditioning throughout the course of her lifetime. Through her own descriptions, she is an exacting, demanding scientist who goes through laboratory assistants like morning coffee and prides herself on her precision, fastidiousness, and, of course, her outcomes. Outside of her lab, however, life is falling apart - her husband (Nathan) has left her for a new woman, she barely communicates with her mother, and she's harboring some deep-seeded pain from her (now dead) father's history of abuse. All of this information spools out gradually from Evelyn as she addresses the most pressing dilemma in front of her - the woman Nathan left her for (Martine) is a clone of herself. Using Evelyn's own methods, Nathan created an improved version of her that is more compliant, less headstrong, and-most importantly-aligned with Nathan's wishes to have a family ... except per Evelyn's ethics and methodology, clones are not supposed to be able to get pregnant. So when Evelyn is faced with a clearly pregnant Martine, she does not hold back in confronting her clone about what her real "purpose" is and how she only exists to fulfill Nathan's wishes. This kicks off a chain reaction which leaves Nathan dead and Martine and Evelyn scrambling to hide the evidence.
All of this happens within the first few chapters, so what the book really ends up being about is Evelyn reckoning with her relationships - with herself, Seyed (her one lab assistant who has stuck around), Martine, Nathan, her past, her parents (equal parts abusive and aloof). She has to reexamine her beliefs around her own work as she discovers that the closest relationship in her life is the one she develops with her own clone. Like all of Gailey's work, the characters and their dilemmas are complex and fascinating to follow; the narrative moves at a fast clip and the only downside is wanting to read more about what happens next in the lives of these damaged people (clones included).
All of this happens within the first few chapters, so what the book really ends up being about is Evelyn reckoning with her relationships - with herself, Seyed (her one lab assistant who has stuck around), Martine, Nathan, her past, her parents (equal parts abusive and aloof). She has to reexamine her beliefs around her own work as she discovers that the closest relationship in her life is the one she develops with her own clone. Like all of Gailey's work, the characters and their dilemmas are complex and fascinating to follow; the narrative moves at a fast clip and the only downside is wanting to read more about what happens next in the lives of these damaged people (clones included).
dark
emotional
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
I think she fucked that clone.
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4
Audio
This was odd and unexpected... many parts were pretty predictable but didn't make it any less satisfying!
Audio
This was odd and unexpected... many parts were pretty predictable but didn't make it any less satisfying!
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was surprisingly… well, not “fun”, as it’s kind of heavy and involves loss of agency and misogyny and death—but certainly engaging and interesting in its framing in the interrogation of those issues.
Basically, our protagonist here has pioneered the creation of clones, who are both more advanced than you typically see, so maybe reflective of what we now know of the possibilities regarding gene therapy and science behind stuff? No idea, I am not up on these technologies. Regardless, she has chosen work over her husband, who is an asshole, but their relationship is expounded on and is far more complex than is initially divulged to the reader.
Because, as she discovers her now estranged husband has a clone of her, and is now planning to marry her, things go sideways in her life rather quickly, spiralling her into memories of her life with him. This creates the duel narrative. The unfolding present day thriller spiral, and the reflections on her life she hasn’t really allowed herself to dwell on, which characterizes her and her husband and grants much more context to the fallout of the relationship.
While murder and betrayal ensue, we discover the psychology behind the choices being made in the present, all while a foil of herself is present, forcing her to constantly regard herself as though looking in a mirror; noticing the unnoticeable.
Very consumable and fast-paced. I found it clever in it making a pretty straight forward thriller much more compelling and nuanced, while making it all but impossible to make the reader reflect on systemic issues themselves and the hypocrisy of workplace dynamics and gender dynamics. I was pleasantly surprised with this one.
Basically, our protagonist here has pioneered the creation of clones, who are both more advanced than you typically see, so maybe reflective of what we now know of the possibilities regarding gene therapy and science behind stuff? No idea, I am not up on these technologies. Regardless, she has chosen work over her husband, who is an asshole, but their relationship is expounded on and is far more complex than is initially divulged to the reader.
Because, as she discovers her now estranged husband has a clone of her, and is now planning to marry her, things go sideways in her life rather quickly, spiralling her into memories of her life with him. This creates the duel narrative. The unfolding present day thriller spiral, and the reflections on her life she hasn’t really allowed herself to dwell on, which characterizes her and her husband and grants much more context to the fallout of the relationship.
While murder and betrayal ensue, we discover the psychology behind the choices being made in the present, all while a foil of herself is present, forcing her to constantly regard herself as though looking in a mirror; noticing the unnoticeable.
Very consumable and fast-paced. I found it clever in it making a pretty straight forward thriller much more compelling and nuanced, while making it all but impossible to make the reader reflect on systemic issues themselves and the hypocrisy of workplace dynamics and gender dynamics. I was pleasantly surprised with this one.