| Title | : | The Younger Wife |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1250229618 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781250229618 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 346 |
| Publication | : | First published October 26, 2021 |
A heart surgeon at the top of his field, Stephen Aston is getting married again. But first he must divorce his current wife, even though she can no longer speak for herself.
THE DAUGHTERS
Tully and Rachel Aston look upon their father’s fiancée, Heather, as nothing but an interloper. Heather is younger than both of them. Clearly, she’s after their father’s money.
THE FORMER WIFE
With their mother in a precarious position, Tully and Rachel are determined to get to the truth about their family’s secrets, the new wife closing in, and who their father really is.
THE YOUNGER WIFE
Heather has secrets of her own. Will getting to the truth unleash the most dangerous impulses in all of them?
The Younger Wife Reviews
-
** Please note, my review is for the ARC. I have not read the published version, which has a different ending. **
Ugh. Why did it have to end that way?
The Younger Wife is a family drama about the relationship between a successful doctor and his new, younger girlfriend. Their engagement and impending nuptials bring about serious family drama and dark, hidden secrets that lead to a bloody and startling conclusion.
When Rachel and Tully’s father, Stephen, announces his engagement to a younger woman, Heather, the two sisters are less than joyous, to say the least. Their new stepmother is a few years younger than them. Oh, and did I mention that their father is still married to their mother, who is suffering from dementia?
This was not the juicy story that I was expecting--which was a good thing. It goes in quite a different direction than I was anticipating.
The narrative is divided between three characters: Heather, Rachel, and Tully.
Tully was hard for me to like. She grew on me a little, but in the end, I really didn’t care about her.
Rachel was my favorite character. However, her relationship with Darcy didn’t feel real --his corny jokes and perfect looks still didn’t explain her instant ability to connect with him.
Heather--I still feel like there was more to Heather’s character than the reader got to see. She had the most potential, but sadly the ending unraveled all of that.
This novel deals with a host of very serious topics: rape, eating disorders, anxiety, kleptomania, verbal abuse, and domestic violence. However, these issues are glossed over, especially the abuse and rape. Some characters overcome, but the process felt transactional in nature. I was missing the emotion.
Then there is the ending. I like that it casts doubt on what we think we know as readers. At the same time, it casts doubt about one of the issues mentioned above. And while it results in creating an interesting and intriguing reading experience, it angers me deeply as it paints the female characters as hysterical, delusional women who overreact. With the ending, Hepworth takes us back 100 years and undoes the progress of women who have fought back against their abusers.
4 stars for the first 90%
Zero stars for the ending
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. -
Ah, this is another dysfunctional family drama marketed as a mystery/thriller. I feel like I'm getting better at sussing them out now.
Stephen is about to marry his much younger fiancée, Heather. But his adult daughters Tully and Rachel aren't too thrilled with the prospect of a stepmother their own age. Not to mention Stephen's ex-wife is still in the picture, Tully and Rachel are tangled up in their own issues at the moment, and Heather isn't sure she can trust herself. And on top of all that, everyone's keeping secrets from each other.
For some reason, I just can't get enough of dysfunctional family dramas, and this was a fun and intriguing one. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and thought Hepworth crafted some fascinating ones. Their personalities and secrets are unique and compelling, drawing me in from pretty much the first page. Along with the short chapters and the teasers about what really happened at the wedding, and I was turning the pages as fast as I could.
Maybe I just love reading about dysfunctional families because it feels like something we can all relate to. No matter how messed up our own families are, reading about a fictional one has a way of making me feel better about my own. And this family is guaranteed to deliver the craziness.
As for the reveals, they're interesting enough, but to call them twists à la mystery/thriller is probably exaggerating a bit. They work to move the story along and keep me engaged, which is exactly what I'm looking for.
I do have to mention the ending because everyone's talking about it. As I understand it—and I'm mostly piecing this together, so please don't quote me—the original ARC had a slightly different ending that left a lot of discombobulation in its wake. I didn't read that version; I read the finished one. And I didn't find any such issues in my copy. In fact, I enjoyed the ending and thought it was a fitting one for the story.
If there indeed was a change made between the ARC release and the final version, it might be one of the only times I know of where early reader feedback actually made an impact. So thanks to all the early readers out there who helped make this a more enjoyable story in the end.
My heartfelt thanks for the copy that was provided for my honest and unbiased review.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
The Good Sister
~~~~~~~~~~~~ -
Another update: 6/21/2022
The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth Narrated by Barrie Kreinik, Caroline Lee, Jessica Douglas-Henry, and Zoe Carides
I read this story as an ARC more than six months ago but I'd heard there had been some small revisions to the published story so I wanted to listen to the audiobook. I loved the narration of the story, Caroline Lee has been a favorite of mine since I listened to her squeaky voice in Apples Never Fall. She narrates Tully in this story, squeak and all. All the narrators did a great job.
For me, differences in the audiobook took away the ambiguity that I disliked in the ARC and I appreciate the changes. I don't want to point out the changes exactly because it'd give away too much of the story but I'm glad I listened to the audiobook even though I'd already read the book. Thanks to my library and Overdrive for all the audiobooks that I'm able to download from my home.
******************************************************************
Review for the earlier digital ARC
The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth
*Update: The extremes of what others think happened surprised me because I know what I think happened. Now I'm not feeling like the conclusion is so ambiguous, I'm just not sure the author meant the story to be so open to interpretation as it seems to be. I'd love to hear her intentions with this story*
I enjoyed this story very much, up to a point. The story is told from the view point of three women, sisters Tully and Rachel, and Heather, their dad's soon to be new wife. Heather is younger than the sisters and to marry Heather, their dad, Stephen, divorced his wife and the mother of his daughters. The wife, Pam, had no say in the matter because she's living in a care facility due to quickly progressing dementia.
So, yeah, Tully and Rachel are suppose to welcome new step mommy with open arms. Heather is excited to be marrying Stephen, but she's way out of her comfort zone. Everyone has issues, including little toddler Miles, Tully's son. Secrets abound and things aren't helped by utterings by Pam, which may or may not have any connection to reality.
For the first half of the story, I took a lot of things at face value, but couldn't help side eyeing how the two sisters could hide their secrets so well. How did their parents not know important matters in their daughters' lives. Each girl has some fuzzy and disturbing memories about both parents and eventually I realized we have a book-ful of unreliable narrators. What is true and what is not true?
The story had me captivated and I really looked forward to knowing what was going on. But in the end, I felt like I had entered a crazy house of mirrors and I'm supposed to pick out the truth myself? I'm not good at such open, pick your own truth kind of non resolutions and that's where I ended up being disappointed in the story. It's fun to wonder and guess and suspect but I don't consider if fun to never find out if my suspicions are correct. Still the journey to get to the end of the story was very engrossing, I just wish I knew where I was at the end.
Pub: April 5, 2022
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC. -
Worst Ending Ever
The Younger Wife begins with a wedding between Heather and Stephen. When they are signing their marriage certificate, a scream rings out. The book then takes us back one year before the wedding and begins to rotate between three perspectives: the two daughters of Stephen (Tully/Natalie and Rachel) and the bride (Heather).
The reason that I wanted to read this book so badly is that the author, Sally Hepworth, wrote The Good Sister. The characters in The Good Sister were so lovable, and I was laughing out loud so much. That set of characters has stayed with me ever since (and I read about 140 books per year!).
.
However, The Younger Wife didn’t have as compelling characters. About 60-75% through the book, there was one spot which was laugh out loud funny. The three characters in the book have very dark backstories (although one does have some dad jokes thrown in), but this book really could have used some humor to lighten up the characters. Plus, who doesn’t love to laugh? Sadly, no magical characters in The Younger Wife as in The Good Sister.
The Younger Wife is a solid three-star book up until the end. This is the worst ending that I have ever read. If I actually purchased this book, I would be asking for a refund. On the Amazon page for The Younger Wives, the About the Author section states: “Sally’s novels as ‘women’s fiction at its finest’”. This is not women’s literature at its finest. Without giving away any spoilers, this is women’s literature at its worst.
*Thanks, NetGalley, for a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest opinion.
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Wow! This is spectacular novel with impactful, scandalous opening scene at the wedding, slow burn- character driven- balanced pace with impeccable psychological character analysis which powered by three narrators who are suffering from different mental health issues and look the part by hiding their struggling pasts.
And the mind blowing conclusion of the story made us remember we’re reading another remarkable story of ultra talented, extremely brilliant author!
For 2021, her novel “good sister” was on my top 3 favorite thrillers list and this one already guaranteed its place at my top 3 thriller reads of 2022! ( you may think it is early to decide but when you get the taste of great literature you already know other books can hardly outshine its brilliance)
The story starts at the wedding ceremony of charming and successful doctor Stephen Aston. He marries with a beautiful and very young woman: actually she’s at his half age and she’s even younger than her two daughters. But who cares the age when you find your real soul mate?
An uninvited guest narrates the opening scene: she might be middle aged woman and till the first half we don’t learn who she’s and what her intentions to attend this wedding. But it seems like she knows a lot about Stephen and her family.
Then we realize Stephen’s ex wife Pam also attended the wedding and after Stephen and his new wife tell their wows, she follows the couple to the back alongside with daughters and grand kids. Then a young woman’s scream cuts the entire cacophony! The celebrant reappears as her face is ashen and her pantsuit is covered in blood.
Then we go one year back to witness Stephen’s dinner with her eldest daughter Tully and younger daughter Rachel to introduce them his new girlfriend/ soon to be wife Heather !
They met when he hired her as interior designer to remodel their house he was living with his wife Pam. But as soon as his wife Pam’s dementia deteriorated, he reluctantly sent her the nursing home where she still lives without recognizing any of her family members. Thankfully Heather gives her entire support to console the poor/ heartbroken doctor and now Stephen declares he’s gonna divorce Tully and Rachel’s mother to marry his beautiful girlfriend.
Of course her daughters find this decision too soon and get suspicious about Heather’s motives: she might be a golddigger who is after his father’s money.
As we read the POVs of three women we realize both of them deal with serious issues, keeping secrets from each other.
Tully’s husband lost his money to a real wrong investment : they can loss their house and everything they cared for. But Tully hides more serious mental condition till her teenage years just like Rachel who never dates with anyone, acting gluttonous to cover another traumatic secret about her teenage years. Heather’s mental state is also fragile because she lies about her past and her family and dear Stephen is so worried about her alcohol consumption level.
In the meantime we return to the present time and learn what happened during the wedding ceremony.
This is amazing psychological thriller keep you hooked up till the end! I liked how the author wrapped up the entire execution! She’s fantastic storyteller!
No more clues! I already gave too much away! I highly recommend this unputdownable read by giving my shiny five stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts. -
The End.
Let’s start there. Sally Hepworth’s latest novel wraps itself up with an untidy little bow that book clubs will delight in unraveling. Some readers will want to throw their e-readers across the room after finishing. Others will scratch their heads and think, “huh?” And then some will flip back through the pages to see if they misread entire passages. All will come together for a spirited debate about interpretations.
If you haven’t read Sally Hepworth before, she excels at writing page-turning “women’s fiction” with just the right mix of characterization and suspense. In The Younger Wife, two thirty-something daughters learn that their 60-something father, Stephen, is engaged to a woman their age. But wait, there’s more! First he must divorce their mother, who is very much still alive but suffering from advanced dementia.
(Can you imagine? If my mom was still alive, in a care home, and my dad divorced her to marry some chick my age… we would have words.)
So the adult daughters, Rachel and Tully, are supposed to play nice with the future younger wife, even though they’re both struggling with their own personal issues. In fact, all three women have very prominent addiction storylines:
Rachel = food
Tully = shoplifting
Heather = alcohol
But it’s Stephen’s tendency’s we should be worrying about… or should we? Dun dun DUN!!!
Clearly yours truly is addicted to books, and The Younger Wife gave me one of those reading highs where you can’t turn the pages fast enough and always want to get back to the story when you have to set it aside for annoying life maintenance issues. Though I found the presentation of some of the addictions to be a bit too heavy handed, and I personally didn’t love The End, I want more of what Sally Hepworth is selling. Gimme gimme gimme.
My thanks to the author and St. Martin’s Press for the gifted copy to review via NetGalley. The Younger Wife is now available!
Blog:
https://www.confettibookshelf.com/ -
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
Sally Hepworth scores again with this new domestic suspense tale!
The Aston family has issues.
Tully and her husband are about to lose their home due to a bad investment. Tully also has a shameful secret.
Her sister, Rachel, is obsessed with cooking/baking, and hasn’t dated anyone since she was 16...almost 20 years ago. Nobody stops to think there could be a reason for it.
Tully and Rachel’s father, Stephen, is about to get married to a woman named Heather. The only problem is, he’s already married to their mother, Pam. However she has dementia and he plans on divorcing her.
As for Heather, she’s younger than both Tully and Rachel, but is going to marry their father. Heather has a dark past, and she wants to keep it hidden.
Not everyone will make it past Stephen and Heather’s wedding unscathed.
Hepworth’s writing is always compulsively readable, and that is no exception here. This is the kind of book that had me saying, “Just one more chapter before bed...Ok, I’ll just read one more.” Needless to say, I flew through it.
I loved reading about these characters - some I really liked, and some I couldn’t stand. My initial feelings about them may not have been right. I questioned who each of them really were more than once.
The twisty reveals are well done, but I did have a few minor issues after I finished the book. However, it didn’t diminish my enjoyment whatsoever. If you’re looking for a book that you won’t want to put down, grab this one! The Author’s Note is fantastic as well!
4.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 4/5/22.
Review also posted at:
https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com -
THIS WAS MY LAST READ OF 2021!!!! This is the most fun I’ve had with a thriller in a very long time.
The plot was very clever and the characters were interesting – everyone has their faults and neuroses.
Except for our patriarch, Stephen Aston, OR SO IT APPEARS!!
He is a 60 something physician, still attractive, getting married to a much younger woman!! He has done well and has a beautiful home, one that Heather designed! He loves his family, including his ex-wife Pam whom he has just divorced!! The book opens with their wedding ceremony!
Looking on as “bridesmaids” are Stephen’s daughters, Tully and Rachel. Tully is married with 2 young children, Rachel is single with a thriving business. Neither is happy about the wedding and they are sitting with their still very much alive mother, who has dementia.
I started to get excited about this book and really couldn’t put it down!!
The book switches to before the wedding for a long time :
While visiting her mother at the nursing facility, Tully has heard her mother talk about how Stephen had hurt her so many times!! Rachel hears her mother complain that he was a terrible man!!
The plot moves along quickly, the three young women start to question if Stephen is the perfect dad and husband that they thought! Pam was young when she was diagnosed with dementia and she often had bruises, although the girls don’t remember her being clumsy. Did her dad abuse her in some way???
Heather wakes up one morning after a girls night out. She remembers coming home to Stephen waiting for her, then she envisions what he did to her. She’s about to leave him when she sees Stephen at the kitchen table, HE HAS A BLACK EYE AND A SCRATCH ON HIS FACE!!
What is going on??? Are these women finally seeing who Stephen really is, or are they mentally creating a picture of a different man??
Lots of great surprises and mind games!! The ending is left to the reader’s design!
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher, St. Martin’s press, through NetGalley.
***This was a buddy read with Marialyce and Jan and we had great fun discussing this one and all enjoyed it! Check out their great reviews!
ADDENDUM: I know that the ending of this book was re-written, apparently due to pressure from pre-readers who didn't like the ending??? What the heck, I liked the ending and it was clever, I enjoy a thought provoking ending. I don't remember a book being re-written because some readers didn't like the ending. Strange
#stmartinspress -
Sally Hepworth is a MASTER of DOMESTIC SUSPENSE/FAMILY DYNAMICS!
In the opening scene we find ourselves at a wedding, which is being described by an unnamed narrator, who confesses that she is a woman of a certain age, watching the man who still takes her breath away, marry a woman young enough to be his daughter.
Our narrator is shocked to also see Pamela in attendance. Married to Stephen Aston for 34 years, Pamela was divorced By Stephen, when she got dementia and was moved to a care facility, allowing him to marry again.
What a guy!
She is even more shocked when Pamela makes her way to the alter during the ceremony picking up a candlestick when she reaches the groom. There is a scream, a thud, and someone ends up covered in blood.
But, who?
REWIND to one year earlier…when Stephen’s daughters, Tully and Rachel, are meeting their Dad’s new girlfriend, Heather, at a luncheon, for the first time.
From this point on, the story will unfold from the alternating perspectives of these three young women-yes, the “bride to be” gets her say, as well as Stephen’s two daughters.
Is it love??
Each woman has their secrets-some from the past and others in the present, and we get to hear them all, in this FAST PACED, UNPUTDOWNABLE drama, until the past catches up to the present, and we are back at the scene of the crime/wedding.
REVISED:
The last 7% is where this book got controversial. I read it with friends and we were divided on what we thought the last chapters implied. No spoilers here-but how YOU interpreted it-seemed to determine how you felt about the ending. It was originally left up to the reader to decide what was meant, and it was SO VERY CLEVER!
Although I DO still highly recommend the book, I am disappointed that the published version was changed to something definitive to satisfy critics, as I LOVED the ORIGINAL ending. ❤️
It was fun to discuss!
Be sure to read the author’s note on what inspired this story, too!
Thank You to St. Martin’s Press for my early gifted copy! It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
AVAILABLE NOW!! -
If someone had asked me a week ago if I thought a hot water bottle would ever feature prominently in a compelling family drama/mystery, I’d probably have looked at them and said, “You mean those funny-looking pink rubbery things that my grandma used?” Well, that day has come and you’ll just have to read this to figure out where that silly-looking thing comes into play!
Stephen Aston is a well-respected heart surgeon in an unorthodox family situation. He’s just divorced his wife, Pam, who has advanced dementia, in order to marry their one-time interior designer, Heather, who’s younger than both of his daughters, Tully (Natalie) and Rachel. It’s a bizarre situation, but that’s how this family rolls and everyone seems willing to make it work. Think that’s weird? Stephen also invited Pam to his wedding. What?!
When the book opens with said wedding and something unexpected happens - the reader isn’t privy to what happened or who it involves until much later in the book, the story goes back to the months preceding the wedding, delving deeper into Rachel, Tully and Heather’s lives, and more indirectly, Stephen’s. ALL of these characters are complicated and fascinating in their own ways, and Hepworth is SO good at creating personalities and backstories that draw you in. I loved Rachel’s strength, Tully’s “quirks” and Heather’s vulnerability. Dysfunction abounds, but c’mon … that’s kinda what makes people more interesting, right?
Now, here’s the tricky part. I love when a book can fool me, and this one kept me guessing until the end, so kudos to Hepworth for that. What I have mixed feelings about, though, is the ending, which seems to be a sticking point for many readers, though I’ve heard she rewrote it, or at least parts of it, for the published version. (See update below)** As for this version, readers are interpreting it very differently, which is going to affect how they feel about events. In my interpretation, I didn’t like where it left certain characters and thought it was a little cruel after everything they’d been through. Did it ruin it? Absolutely not! It’s great domestic suspense and for the most part I loved it. I’ll be eager to see the published version to see how it affects my feelings!
★★★★ ½ (rounded down to 4)
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and author Sally Hepworth for this ARC. I’ve given my opinions freely and honestly. It’s now available.
** UPDATE: Concerning those rumored re-writes for the published version, I can now confirm they're true. I’ve just read the final 7 or 8 chapters of it, and am happy that it now answers the major unresolved question. I hope many, like me, who previously only read the ARC will pick up a copy and decide what they think. Those who hated the original ending will likely be happy, and those who loved the original ending may feel disappointed, but I think there's merit to be found in both versions. -
My first Sally Hepworth novel and I'm impressed with her writing. However I've been pondering with a 3.5 or 4 star rating. I enjoyed the story but felt I needed more closure with some of the characters (and perhaps more story too.) I still have a lot of questions.
It's an intriguing start. There's a wedding taking place and all of a sudden someone has died! The story then goes back in time and we learn the stories of the bride, Heather (who is the much younger wife of the groom, Stephen who is in his 60's,) and his daughter's Rachel and Natalie (Tully.)
It's an entertaining book and I really enjoyed Sally Hepworth's style of writing. Her author's notes on how she came about the idea for this story is sweet. I was not crazy about the ending but I'm rating this a full 4 stars as I was fully engaged throughout the novel.
I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for granting me access to this Advance Reader Copy. -
Updated Review 4/8/22:
I heard through the grapevine and then it was confirmed for me that the finished copy of the book has an added paragraph towards the end that completely changes the outcome of the book. I'm only upgrading to three stars though, because the entire process of reading the book was exhausting for me and I thought the author could have handled it better. I stand by what I wrote below, but added a star for not throwing these women under the bus like she did before.
I'm done with gaslighting (or supposed gaslighting), writers need to give this a break for a while. I'm also done with stupid women.
I went to a webinar in January where the author talked about her inspiration for this book (she discusses it in the author's note at the end). I thought it sounded like an intriguing concept and was anxious to see where she went with it. I have really liked the past few books of hers I read and was excited to read this latest offering.
The book starts with a wedding of an older man to a younger woman. His daughters are bridesmaids, and his ex-wife with Alzheimer's Disease is in attendance as well. The wedding party, along with the ex-wife who happens to be carrying a candlestick, heads to the back to sign the paperwork. A thud is heard and someone calls for an ambulance.
In general, there are some things I liked about the book, but I thought she did not go far enough with certain things, and went way too far with others. I liked the daughters, Tully and Rachel, but every single character in the book seems to have major issues that they have had for years and are just brushing them under the rug. Rachel's are very understandable and her story arc, while it could have been fleshed out and explored further, made the most sense and was my favorite part. Tully's kleptomania was drawn out way too long with too much time given to it in the narrative.
Now getting to the stupid women part--every single woman, when they are looking back and trying to determine whether or not Stephen is/was abusive, acted stupidly more than once. They didn't try to think for themselves. They took his word for everything. Around and around we went not knowing if the women were being gaslit, were drunk, were actually crazy, were stupid, or a combination of the above. I wish the author would have made at least one of them astute enough to get to the bottom of things, but all of the women were at least partially distracted by their issues.
Taken as a whole, I know that this was the very point of the book. It was to create this ambiguous situation where the reader has to determine what really happened. Hepworth is a fantastic writer, so I give her credit for the interesting way she created this puzzle. Yet, I just cannot get past that the men are all pretty much perfect and the women are all a mess.
I know I'm an outlier with my opinions for this book, I think it would make a good book club choice so that readers can discuss their thoughts and predictions.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own. -
The book opens at a wedding when, as the happy couple go to the sacristy to sign the marriage license, the guests hear a thud, a scream, and the celebrant comes out covered in blood. What happened? We are kept in the dark as to who, what, and why, as we go back in time.
Stephen is a successful cardiac surgeon, still married to Pam, who suffers from advanced Alzheimer’s disease and resides in a care facility. Imagine the shock and surprise of his two grown daughters, Rachel and Tully, when he invites them to a luncheon to meet Heather, his very young fiancé.
Heather is the product of a troubled childhood and is unsure in social situations, always expecting the worst from people, including her husband-to-be. Rachel and Tully both have their own issues. Tully is married and living an upper middle-class lifestyle that is crumbling around her as she hides a dangerous secret, while Rachel is single and has a secret trauma from her past.
As the daughters go through their mother’s things, they find a hot water bottle filled with cash and the theories begin to fly. Told from the perspective of the three women, a group think begins to occur and past events and motivations are assigned to Stephen that may or may not be true. As they sift through their memories and come to conclusions, are they correct or have they been tainted by time, assumptions, and innuendos?
This is a brilliant exploration of memory, as well as early trauma affecting our perceptions and beliefs. The ending could be open to interpretation and it’s one I re-read several times. I have my own belief and interpretation based on my own experiences, as I’m sure others will interpret it differently based on their beliefs and experiences. I didn’t find it ambiguous but other readers may. Which, when you think about it, proves the author’s point brilliantly.
It’s been a long time since I had such a page-turner that I was glued to the page past my bedtime. I rate according to genre, how fast I flip the pages, and how much a book makes me think. This may not be an in-depth character study but for a terrific lighter read with substance you can’t go wrong. I read this as a buddy read with Marialyce and Dorie, and it inspired an interesting and lively discussion. This would make a terrific book club selection.
*I received a digital copy for review from NetGalley
* Publication date April 5, 2022 by St. Martin’s Press
*For our reviews please visit
https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres...- -
Blurb
THE HUSBAND
A heart surgeon at the top of his field, Stephen Aston is getting married again. But first he must divorce his current wife, even though she can no longer speak for herself.
THE DAUGHTERS
Tully and Rachel Aston look upon their father’s fiancée, Heather, as nothing but an interloper. Heather is younger than both of them. Clearly, she’s after their father’s money.
THE FORMER WIFE
With their mother in a precarious position, Tully and Rachel are determined to get to the truth about their family’s secrets, the new wife closing in, and who their father really is.
THE YOUNGER WIFE
Heather has secrets of her own. Will getting to the truth unleash the most dangerous impulses in all of them?
Unpopular Opinion
To me, this was a family drama with a slow burning mystery. I am a thriller fan and this was not a thriller at all. Why it was marketed as one, I do not understand that at all. I did like the first half but then after that it lost its fizzle.
I loved The Good Sister! That one was excellent. I did not like The Mother In Law, and that was another one that was marketed as a thriller and that one was not a thriller either to me.
I did not care for any of the characters. I was so disappointed in this book. Then comes the ending!! OMG! It just turned it into one hot mess!
I want to thank Netgalley, Minotaur Books for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. -
We’re off to the chapel to celebrate the wedding of Stephen and Heather.
On the guest list, of course, are Stephens’ two daughters, Tully and Rachel. Also on the list, is Stephens’ first wife. Yikes!
As the ceremony concludes not everyone will make it out of the chapel unharmed.
This was an extremely well-developed thriller. First and foremost…it kept me on the edge of my seat, constantly guessing who was hurt. And never knowing who the real culprit was right up to the very end.
So…Who exactly is the victim here? Or for that matter who was the culprit?
Once again, Sally Hepworth has knocked it out of the ballpark with a top-notch thriller that everyone will be buzzing about!
A buddy read with Susanne.
Posted to:
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Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press -
Thank you, NetGalley and St.Martin's Press for this highly entertaining domestic drama. The story was narrated by three women who may be unreliable. It flowed well and kept me turning the pages in suspense.
The narrators are Rachel and her sister Tully, and their father's soon-to-be new wife, Heather. All three have unresolved problems from the past and secrets. In the present, they have resulting emotional difficulties making their lives ranging from uncomfortable to dysfunctional. Tully has anxiety issues and calms herself by shoplifting. She is married to a lawyer, an upscale home, and two children. She is unable to control her young son. Her family is on the verge of financial ruin.
Rachel stopped dating while a teenager, owns a bakery and has an eating disorder.
Heather loves their father, but tries to hide her low self-esteem, and has a problem with alcohol.
Stephen, the father of Rachel and Tully, is a popular, well-liked heart surgeon and plans to marry Heather. He is in his 60s and Heather is in her 30s. The bride-to-be is slightly younger than his two daughters. They are offended and do not approve of welcoming Heather into the family. A bigger problem than the age disparity is that Stephen is already married to his daughter's mother. She is in a nursing home with early-onset dementia. She seldom recognizes her daughters anymore, and usually speaks to them in what they consider senseless gibberish. Rachel and Tully still compete for the attention of both parents.
The story begins with Stephen's wedding to Heather. His daughters are present and also his very confused ex-wife whom he has recently divorced. Minutes after their marriage vows, while they are signing the register, there is a loud crash, a lot of blood and murder. We do not know the identity of the victim or the culprit.
Then the story goes back in time to events leading up to the wedding ceremony. We learn the thoughts and problems of all three women from their perspectives in separate chapters. You are left to wonder whether any of their viewpoints are reliable.
Some readers were troubled with themes touching on family violence, rape, alcoholism, gaslighting, eating disorders, kleptomania, and unfounded suspicions. I found the women's characters so over-the-top and exaggerated, that their dramatic personalities made it difficult to relate to them as real people. I found I was unable to empathize with them, but they kept me entertained. A few readers were put off by an ambiguous ending that I found very clever.
I enjoyed this book, but do not recommend it to those readers disturbed by some troubling and triggering themes. If you enjoy an intense, suspenseful story based on dysfunctional family dynamics you might be highly entertained. -
Not the wedding of your dreams!
New wife, new life?
I was into this one from the beginning, compulsively readable, as most of her novels are for me.
The novel opens with the wedding ceremony. A successful doctor, Stephen Aston is marrying a much, much younger women, Heather. Stephen's two daughters are older than Heather! The daughters are leary of her. Tully thinks she looks like "a viper poised to strike."
Ooh..... we have an uninvited wedding guest! Who also narrates the opening chapter.
We get the POV's of all the women. This leads to a lot of secrets being revealed, heavy issues involving their personal anxieties and how they feel towards their parents. They aren't the "normal" family as the father joked once saying, "That horse bolted for this family long ago." I enjoyed the humor sprinkled here and there.
Now to that ending! I know exactly how I felt, but you may feel differently. Either way, it is very dramatic and may lead to some engaging conversations.
OUT April 19, 2022
Thanks to NG and St. Martin's Press for my review arc! -
"Putting on a good show was all dad cared about"
Stephen Aston, a successful surgeon, is getting married to a woman, Heather, who is younger than his daughters. Rachel and Tully, his daughters, are not very impressed with this. Plus, there is the fact that their father is still married to their mother, Pam, who is diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. Stephen did not win any brownie points with me.
When Rachel goes through her mother's belongings, she finds a hot water bottle. It brings back fond memories. She decides to use it as her mother did, but she can't, because it is filled with money. Why was their mother hiding money in a hot water bottle? Why has she been saying how horrible and sadistic their father is?
All have their own issues. All have their secrets.
The day of the wedding, many are shocked to see Pam there. The woman Stephen divorced to marry his much younger fiancée. What a wonderful man (insert gagging noises here). When there is a thud and the request for a doctor, guests know something was horribly wrong.
The book is told through Heather, Tully and Rachel's POV. The book goes back and forth between the wedding and days leading up to and after the wedding.
Another solid read by Hepworth. I thoroughly enjoyed this family drama. I was lucky enough to have the book and the audiobook. I enjoyed the narrator and being able to have both to enjoy this work.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book and audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
*in the author's note Hepworth describes her inspiration for the writing of this novel.
Read more of my reviews at
www.openbookposts.com -
"Who ya gonna believe, me or your lyin' eyes?" (Groucho Marx)
The Younger Wife will split the readers like a hot knife in butter. It's guaranteed to keep you locked in and turning pages like palm fronds in a tornado. Why? Because we're all onboard for the action until the pivotal moment at the ending and its crucial aftermath. We'll be in separate camps. Just you wait and see......
Adult children seem to act more like children than children do. They are territorial, extremely jealous, and still vie for mommy and daddy's sole attention. Even when they have children of their own. One of the most hair-splitting examples is when a parent plans on re-marrying. Stephen Aston, renowned heart surgeon in his 60's, has just announced his intention of marrying a young woman, Heather, who is younger than his two daughters. Tully and Rachel are obstinate and plan on sabotaging their first lunch meeting with the family.
Sally Hepworth just doesn't create cardboard figures in her novels. Her characters are the walking wounded wrapped in emotional bandages. To add to this turmoil we have the girls' mother, Pamela, in a care facility with dementia. Ol' Stephen and Pamela aren't even divorced yet. Hepworth stirs the pot with the brutality of an act in the past, kleptomania, highly ill-behaved little ones, an undiagnosed eating disorder, deadly secrets, another marriage on the rocks, and sorely lacking social skills. And that's just the beginning stages of the roll-out.....
Going to the chapel and we're gonna get married. Hepworth opens with the over-crowded little chapel on the wedding day. The couple and the family go into the side office to sign the legal papers. Someone will notice a spray of blood splattering here and there. Gotcha good. But who?
At the core of all this is PERCEPTION. It can be a straight line of thoughts or a composite of crooked steps leading to a grand finale in the mind. What you see is not always what you see.....but what you KNOW makes all the difference in the world. Notice the reviews. Readers dropped like flies at the end. But just remember what Heather's father said. Just sayin'. Sign up for this one and pack your analytical skills for the last stop. Excellent book club read. Whew!
I received a copy of this novel through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and to Sally Hepworth for the opportunity. -
My reviews can also be seen at:
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Another fantastic novel by Sally Hepworth!
I have loved ALL of this author’s previous novels. Her last novel THE GOOD SISTER is one of my all time favorites. Needless to say, I was very excited to read this book.
As I read, there were times I thought about slowing down because I knew once it was over, I would likely have to wait quite a while for the author’s next release. But I couldn’t stop reading. I had an inkling about something and I HAD to find out if I was right. So I continued reading long (lonnng) into the night.
Tully and Rachel Aston are not happy that their father, Steven is about to be married again. One of their issues is that he is still married to their mother, Pamela. Pamela suffers from dementia and has been living in an assisted living facility. The other issue is that their father’s fiancée, Heather is a much younger woman.
Heather has secrets…
But she’s not the only one.
Soo many secrets!!
This was another winning domestic suspense novel from Sally Hepworth! A terrific storyline with wonderful well-developed characters. SH’s characters are always so interesting. Love ’em or hate ’em….they all make the story better. I really enjoyed the multiple points of view.
This novel was the perfect escape from reality that I needed. It kept me guessing and thoroughly entertained until the very last page.
Can’t wait to see what’s next from Sally Hepworth!!
I’d like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this novel. All opinions are my own. -
Sally Hepworth-you know how to tell a story!
I was totally captivated by this from start to finish. I couldn’t put this book down.
My favorite thing about this book were the characters. I loved them and connected with them. They were incredibly relatable. I thought they were all written very well and in many layers.
Although this read as more of a domestic drama and didn’t seem very thriller in nature or twisty, I still loved it. The scenarios each character found themselves in left me gasping at times. I love when an author can do that to me. If you can cause me to audibly gasp, you’ve truly taken me out of my current world and into the world of the book.
I really liked the message of the story that I can’t give away due to spoilers, but I think it’s an important subject that Hepworth handled tastefully.
My only minor complaint is that I was a tad underwhelmed by the conclusion of the book. I just wanted a bit more depth to it.
All in all, great book and I’m most certainly going to read more from Hepworth in the future.
4.25 ⭐️ -
Having heard about the disappointing original ending certainly kept me away from tapping into this book. I'm mighty curious to know what ending 1 was. Ending 2 was fine and not really a shocker but also left me thinking once it's over. I'm glad I finally picked it up as it certainly is an enjoyable book with family secrets and drama. I'm not sure if my enjoyment is because my expectation was low going in! 😅
Stephen Aston is a prominent doctor who is building a mansion on the beach for him and his wife. Sadly, Pamela has dementia and moved to a care facility before the house is completed. He developed feelings for Heather, an interior designer thirty years his junior. Their love blossomed and the wedding is on the horizon. Stephen and Pamela have two adult daughters, Tully and Rachel who are conflicted with their father's new relationship. Hard as it may be, they are quite civilized about it.
This is my second book by Sally Hepworth and I know I'll be reading more from her. The audiobook with multi-narrators made it very easy to distinguish between each lady and all were excellent. -
Of all the words I thought I might use in a Sally Hepworth book review...disappointing was NOT one of them.
But unfortunately, when it comes to The Younger Wife, I can't think of a better word to sum up my feelings than that one...and it pains me to say so!
Our story starts out simply enough: daughters Tully and Rachel are bridesmaids at their father Stephen's wedding. Stephen divorced their mother, who is now in a nursing home with Alzheimer's, after many years of marriage...and she may possibly have some important information stored deep in her memory banks. She’s the ex-wife…but SHE has shown up at this wedding...and everyone is left wondering why?
Stephen's new bride is the lovely Heather, who is (you guessed it) young enough to be his daughter. Seeing as Stephen is a wealthy doctor...exactly what are her intentions? And when a thud is heard at the wedding from behind the scenes...why is Stephen the one to fall? Is Pamela out to wreak havoc on this new union...or maybe Heather is looking to collect? Can Tully and Rachel work together to find the truth and uncover all of the secrets lurking just below the surface, before a honeymoon becomes a funeral?
This is one of those thrillers I've been waiting for AGES and ages to read and my expectations were next-level high, since Sally Hepworth hasn't failed me yet. After The Good Sister, I'd pretty much figured the Queen of Domestic Suspense could do no wrong.
Well...I found quite a few things that seemed 'wrong' with this book...and it's hard to know where to start.
I've never questioned Hepworth when it comes to her characters, because after my love for Fern and Wally in The Good Sister, I truly believed Hepworth was ALWAYS going to write characters that felt not only believable, but strayed far from cliché . The strange thing is, in this book, EVERY character felt like a cliché. Tully and Rachel are both characterized almost entirely by their vices (kleptomania and overeating) and both of these issues dominated the narrative. This would be okay if there was balance, but in terms of character development, this is all you're going to get.
Heather was much the same, where her character existed mostly to talk about her backstory, and I didn't feel her character was properly fleshed out either. Worst of all was Stephen. Smooth and charming, he seemingly can 'do no wrong'...although whether or not this is true is basically the premise of the novel. It is up to YOU, the reader, to decide. The back and forth and back and forth between good guy, bad guy was fun at first, but felt incredibly repetitious after a while. I'm usually blown away by at least one or two unexpected twists from Hepworth...but they were just lacking in this book. When the majority of the book can be boiled down to whether you believe the anecdotal evidence from all of the characters (or are the women lying or simply drunk 🙄), this story not only felt a little bit off but at times bordered on distasteful.
I've read another Hepworth book with unlikable characters and drama, and that in and of itself is far from the problem. I just couldn't understand WHERE the story was supposed to end...and apparently, neither could Hepworth. There has been a lot of buzz around this book and its 'original' ending versus the one in the finished copy. After checking on some spoilers, I'm STILL not sure why this ending was better received because in all honesty, BOTH endings (or what I know of them) sound unfulfilling and somewhat vague. Again, this is sort of the last thing I'd expect from Hepworth after such solid and thoroughly enjoyable writing in the past, so I am so hopeful this is a one-off situation.
After hearing some early buzz for her upcoming release, my sincere hope is that, like the titles themselves, a Younger Wife might SOUND glamorous...but a SOULMATE won't ever let you down! 😉
3.5 stars -
But Wait, There’s More!
Amended Review for the April 5, 2022 Published Edition:
That I’ve remained invested after reading an advance copy attests to the intriguing storyline. The preliminary release left unanswered questions causing readers to interpret the outcome differently.
I was of the opinion that an advocate for women wouldn’t deliberately cast a shadow on a victim’s claim to abuse - no matter how unreliable. I also speculated on whether Sally Hepworth was creating a gaslighting experience for the reader correlating with what the characters were seeing and hearing.
Did I correctly interpret the message she wanted to convey? Or were my friends with opposing opinions correct and I was over thinking?
The debate gains more clarity with this final version and I think many will enjoy it. If you've read the ARC, you might want to look again for a more complete perspective.
The crafty telling remains, combining author connotation with overt drama. On the surface, you think you’re reading about a troubled family, but there's more to it.
Thank you to Christina for discussing this with me by direct message after reading the ARC. I wondered why I viewed the outcome one way and others the complete opposite and I was happy to discover a like mind.
This is my favorite Sally Hepworth novel and I purchased a hardcover to accompany my copy of The Mother in Law already on my shelf. It can also be borrowed from many local libraries.
My Original Review of the Advanced Reader Copy (Edited for brevity):
Rachel and Tully are roped into meeting their future step-mother against their better judgment.
Their father, sixty year old Stephen wants everyone to be family, but Rachel and Tully aren’t on board with accepting a gorgeous interloper who’s closer to their age than their dad’s.
Most everyone in this story came with heavy baggage and the compilation of phobias caused me to feel a little anxious myself while reading about these neurotic folks.
A few comedic sequences involving Tully’s son provided respite while she questioned her parenting skills. A sensitive child on the cusp of three, he was grappling with life changes which “produced” unexpected results. Poor little guy was a treasure in the midst of noxiousness.
Was it murder or not?
The ending will surely be uniquely interpreted by each reader. From early reviews and my own spirited discussion with friends, I foresee many debates. Which is desirable in my opinion, as the lively repartee enhanced my reading experience.
Thank you to NetGalley, Sally Hepworth, and St. Martin’s Press for my advance electronic copy due to publish on April 5, 2022. -
💛Happy U.S. Publication Day! April 5, 2022 💛
Intricacies of family relationships is played out in a twisted slow-paced read. Some authors use the conclusion to reveal a shocking ending and validate the whole story and then there are those that have you wondering at the end what just happened.
Dr. Stephen Ashton is planning his wedding with a much younger wife Heather. The only thing is his ex-wife who has dementia shows up at the wedding. You know that something tragic has happened during the wedding, but not sure what or to whom. The book plays out the family's complex and complicated feelings leading us up to the wedding day. There are strong bonds and obvious resentments of dad and his younger wife-to-be and his daughters that are close in age to Heather. Rachel and Tully are dealing with a lot of mixed emotions and feeling somewhat betrayal of what they thought was their perfect family and feelings of guilt for their mom.
Mom has more going on than memory loss and has a lot to say even when no one is paying attention to her rambling...😉
Heather is dealing with her own memories of a childhood gone awry and her dad is spending life in prison.
You do not know who to feel sorry for and certainly do not know who is telling the truth or even remembers what the truth is. I was confused by all the vague misguidance or information that maybe wasn't a lie??? Sound confusing?? Wait until you read this!! It is worth the confusion for that last twist I'm still duped by the chicanery.
Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion and review. -
Happy U.S. Publication Day! (April 5, 2022)
3.5⭐
The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth is an engaging psychological family drama with a mystery at its core.
The story begins in a wedding chapel where Dr. Stephen Aston, a respected and charismatic surgeon in his sixties, marries a younger woman in her thirties surrounded by family and friends. In attendance are his two adult daughters and their mother, Stephen's recently divorced ex-wife who suffers from dementia. A shocking incident occurs at the venue that only the family witness. What really happened and who was responsible ? The readers, along with the wedding guests, are left guessing and the details of the incident are not revealed until much later in the narrative.
The larger part of the narrative switches between Stephen's daughters Tully and Rachel and his 'younger' fiance/wife Heather. The authors delves deep into these characters and we get to know more about these women - their relationships, traumas and struggles and their motivations- through a sequence of events leading up to the fateful day of the wedding. The author touches upon issues of dementia and mental health, kleptomania, eating disorders, domestic violence and rape in the process of exploring the complicated dynamics behind a seemingly functional family.
Some of the characters and their backstories may have needed a little more exploration but this does not detract from the overall reading experience.
A slow burning page turner with a riveting narrative , Sally Hepworth's The Younger Wife does not disappoint! I recommend adding this book to your to-read list.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review. -
I love Sally Hepworth’s novels, she knows how to write family/domestic suspense. With that being said, this one has to be my least favorite books I’ve read by Sally so far. This one started out strong for me and was a page turner. I loved the storyline and everything was so good right until the very ending. Then I felt a huge letdown, there was so much more potential for this ending and it just fell short for me. It was a total bummer. This would have been 5 stars if it wasn’t for the ending. Already looking forward to Sally’s next novel!!
Thank you St. Martin’s press and Net Galley for an ARC in return for my honest review. -
4.5 stars
I have not been a big fan of Sally Hepworth, but I must say this book changed my mind. There is so much to it both in the story itself and the discussions I was able to have with my two book friends, Jan and Dorie, but the very questions it left in our minds as to who or what managed to complete an awful act.
So much is left to the imagination, and this book does make one wonder what lines might have been crossed and how often we can be deceived by what seems to be right in front of our eyes.
People with issues and problems present themselves in so many ways. Stephen, the head of the family, a successful doctor is currently married to Pam, but sadly Pam is in the hold of dementia and is confined to a home. Stephen has also met and fallen in love with Heather, a young woman his two daughter's age who is ever so anxious to become something, to climb out of the hole her family seemed to have placed her in. The two daughters, Tully and Rachel are products of trauma and both hide their mental states to all, even in Tully's case from her husband.
And so, this mixture of people come together to both prepare for the upcoming divorce and marriage of their saintly father. However, is he the saint we are all led to believe or is there once again a hidden self that lies within Stephen that seems to set them all down a road, they never believed they would travel.
Intensely interesting and page turning, this book keeps one engrossed in the happenings of this family and the inevitable end that they seem to be headed for. Definitely recommend this one for its probe into the very essence of family and what the mind believes.
Thank you to Sally Hepworth, St Martin's Press, and NetGalley for this story due out April 5, 2022. -
3.0 stars — “The Younger Wife” by Sally Hepworth is a difficult book to describe and review because it really doesn’t fit into any genre of books. Told from the perspective of four different narrators, “Wife” is a case study for a dysfunctional family as well as a very slow building mystery/suspense novel as well as a whodunnit. Now that I have cleared that up😳—as is the tradition of all of the Hepworth books I have read— the painfully slow beginning almost ruins the book from the start. But, as I continued reading and the central mystery of the book took shape through the perspectives of the two daughters and fiancé of Stephen, I found myself enjoying the book. Each of the major characters in the book has either a mental illness, a life changing family crisis, or major personal issues that make you wonder if this is the most deranged family ever created. The novel loses steam when the characters start doubting things that they personally see and experience based on the obvious gaslighting of one character that all of the other characters are taken in by over and over again. After awhile it would seem that even the most gullible character would catch on that things aren’t what they appear no matter what that person says or gives as an excuse for events that speak for themselves. This lack of perception by all of the central characters rings false after a while and goes on way too long to be considered genuine. There were just too many issues with the pacing and the plot for me to give this book a high rating even though at times it had me wanting to get to the bottom of an otherwise interesting mystery.
-
EXCERPT: As the celebrant starts her spiel, there's the usual rustling in seats as people shift to get comfortable. A baby cries and is removed by his or her father. A few guests fan themselves with the wedding booklets while simultaneously trying not to touch the person on either side of them (a challenge in the cramped space). Then, just as everyone seems to have settled, Pamela stands again. The energy in the room shifts from aggressive good will to scandalized breath holding as she wanders onto the altar, observing her surroundings casually as if perusing produce at the supermarket. Stephen smiles, dispelling the panic in the room. 'Carry on,' he says to the celebrant.
'I now pronounce you husband and wife,' she says uncertainly as Pamela charges past them. She appears to be interested in the stained glass windows. They are quite beautiful. 'You may kiss the bride.'
The kiss is chaste and imbued with what appears to be genuine affection. When they separate, Stephen, impossibly pleased with himself, gives a little fist pump and the crowd erupts in applause, with a few whistles thrown in for good measure.
The noise spooks Pamela, who looks around worriedly. She grabs an ornate brass candlestick, holding it up in front of her like a shield. Stephen beams at the crowd. He's a newly wed. An ex-wife with Alzheimer's isn't going to rain on his parade.
'Now, if you'll excuse us for a moment,' the celebrant says, 'I'm going to take the bride and groom into the sacristy to sign the register.'
She leads Stephen and his new wife into a room to the side of the altar. The trio is followed by the two little boys, plus Rachel and Tully and Pamela, who is still clutching the candlestick. Will someone take that poor woman home?
With the bridal party out of sight, the guests start chatting amongst themselves.
'Wasn't that lovely?'
'What a beautiful bride.'
'Isn't it wonderful that he found love again?'
'Couldn't have happened to a nicer man.'
It seems as good a time as any to take my leave. I gather my handbag and do a quick scan for the nearest exit and I'm about to ask the young man next to me if he can let me by when I hear it. A young woman's scream and, a fraction of a second later, a dense, meaty thud. I rise at the same time as every other guest. I peer towards the altar, but my view is obscured by large hats and bald heads. I am craning to see through the gaps between the guests when the celebrant reappears. Her face is ashen and her white pants suit is covered in blood.
ABOUT 'THE YOUNGER WIFE': Tully and Rachel are murderous when they discover their father has a new girlfriend. The fact that Heather is half his age isn't even the most shocking part. Stephen is still married to their mother, who is in a care facility with end-stage Alzheimer's disease.
Heather knows she has an uphill battle to win Tully and Rachel over - particularly while carrying the shameful secrets of her past. But, as it turns out, her soon-to-be stepdaughters have secrets of their own.
The announcement of Stephen and Heather's engagement threatens to set off a family implosion, with old wounds and dark secrets finally being forced to the surface.
MY THOUGHTS: Sally Hepworth has written a suspenseful story overflowing with secrets. As always she kept me enchanted from page one as her characters seemingly perfect lives slowly unravelled.
Her characters feel familiar, a little like old friends - perhaps because we can all recognize little bits of ourselves in them. She does little, niggling frustrations and family resentments so well. The dialogue flows seamlessly, naturally. Hepworth never puts a word wrong.
Stephen is a greatly respected heart surgeon. Pamela is his newly divorced wife who lives in a care home as she has dementia. Heather is the much younger fiancee/new wife. Stephen and Pamela have two daughters, Tully and Rachel who each have their own neuroses and aren't particularly happy with their father. But they're not the type of family to make a scene. They do things nicely. Civilly.
There's a very important hot water bottle in this story.
And just who is Fiona Arthur?
I have only one minor (very minor) niggle with this story: why, when Pamela is in the early stages of dementia, would Stephen be redesigning the house making everything unfamiliar to Pamela?
Otherwise, I loved it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.3
#TheYoungerWife #NetGalley
I: @sallyhepworth @macmillanaustralia
T: @SallyHepworth @MacmillanAus
#australianfiction #contemporaryfiction #familydrama #romance #suspense
THE AUTHOR: Drawing on the good, the bad and the downright odd of human behaviour, Sally writes incisively about family, relationships and identity. Her domestic thriller novels are laced with quirky humour, sass and a darkly charming tone.
Sally's novels are available worldwide in English and have been translated into 20 languages.
Sally lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband and three children and excels at burning toast.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Pan Macmillan Australia via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
