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A review by thesaltiestlibrarian
The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
4.0
Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. The opinions expressed herein are mine alone and may not reflect the views of the author, publisher, or distributor.
I've been in this weird kind of funk lately where I've picked up books by authors who haven't impressed me before, only to really like the book I picked up. Emma Donoghue, Kara Thomas, Fredrik Backman, and now Sarah Gailey. This year I read UPRIGHT WOMEN WANTED but felt that the world was muddled and the story had no point. But the summary for THE ECHO WIFE really grabbed my attention, so--in spite of myself--I started reading. And I couldn't stop.
The characters felt so real here. The dire situations made my hair stand on end, and the philosophical knots presented were so mesmerizing to pick at. As soon as the sentient, sapient, what is a person argument whirled into the narrative, I immediately recommended this book to my husband. He LOVES stuff like this, and I know he'll enjoy it just as much as I did.
Sarah Gailey speaks about their own experiences with domestic abuse in the acknowledgements, and I personally identified with that part of the story because of the accuracy. I hate that they had to go through that. My brothers, mother, and myself are domestic abuse survivors, and the insidious way it crept into the lives of Evelyn and Martine here...it's chilling and scary and real.
I don't want to say too much. People should experience this semi-blind, because it's not at all what you expect it to be.
I've been in this weird kind of funk lately where I've picked up books by authors who haven't impressed me before, only to really like the book I picked up. Emma Donoghue, Kara Thomas, Fredrik Backman, and now Sarah Gailey. This year I read UPRIGHT WOMEN WANTED but felt that the world was muddled and the story had no point. But the summary for THE ECHO WIFE really grabbed my attention, so--in spite of myself--I started reading. And I couldn't stop.
The characters felt so real here. The dire situations made my hair stand on end, and the philosophical knots presented were so mesmerizing to pick at. As soon as the sentient, sapient, what is a person argument whirled into the narrative, I immediately recommended this book to my husband. He LOVES stuff like this, and I know he'll enjoy it just as much as I did.
Sarah Gailey speaks about their own experiences with domestic abuse in the acknowledgements, and I personally identified with that part of the story because of the accuracy. I hate that they had to go through that. My brothers, mother, and myself are domestic abuse survivors, and the insidious way it crept into the lives of Evelyn and Martine here...it's chilling and scary and real.
I don't want to say too much. People should experience this semi-blind, because it's not at all what you expect it to be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Blood, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Abortion