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A review by mmarlborough
The Third Wife by Lisa Jewell
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’m slowly making my way through the phenomenal Lisa Jewell’s backlist! This one is more a mystery/family drama than a typical Jewell thriller, but I really loved this one (and even teared up.)
Adrian is grieving the sudden loss of his wife Maya, who was struck by a bus. He can’t stop wondering if it was an accident or suicide, so he begins to try and figure it out. Adrian was under the impression that his previous two wives and his children all embraced his marriage to third wife Maya, but he begins to see there was so much he didn’t know about his family.
This is a complicated, messy family drama with a dash of mystery. Jewell crafted this family so well. The pacing, multiple timelines and vast POVs made this very compelling. This book doesn’t seem to be well reviewed on Goodreads (because Adrian is not a likable character), but I really enjoyed it on audio. Adrian is a flawed, selfish, and oblivious straight man protagonist. While it is definitely frustrating to see his blind spots from a mile away, his growth and journey was very well done. I highly recommend this for fans of Jewell’s domestic dramas, just don’t expect a nail biting thriller here!
✨Trigger Warnings: Bullying, Death, Infidelity, Suicide, Infertility, Eating Disorder, Death of a Parent
Adrian is grieving the sudden loss of his wife Maya, who was struck by a bus. He can’t stop wondering if it was an accident or suicide, so he begins to try and figure it out. Adrian was under the impression that his previous two wives and his children all embraced his marriage to third wife Maya, but he begins to see there was so much he didn’t know about his family.
This is a complicated, messy family drama with a dash of mystery. Jewell crafted this family so well. The pacing, multiple timelines and vast POVs made this very compelling. This book doesn’t seem to be well reviewed on Goodreads (because Adrian is not a likable character), but I really enjoyed it on audio. Adrian is a flawed, selfish, and oblivious straight man protagonist. While it is definitely frustrating to see his blind spots from a mile away, his growth and journey was very well done. I highly recommend this for fans of Jewell’s domestic dramas, just don’t expect a nail biting thriller here!
✨Trigger Warnings: Bullying, Death, Infidelity, Suicide, Infertility, Eating Disorder, Death of a Parent