Wife After Wife is a modernized retelling of Henry VIII, and it was such an interesting concept. I feel like the story worked well with the updates, and it was an entertaining read. It is on the slower side, and felt a little long at times, but it held my interest. This book is full of drama, and I loved seeing how everything played out. Sometimes it was difficult to spend so much time with Harry because he's very often a misogynistic creeper, and I wish that most of the wives would have been a little more developed. It was like watching a train wreck to read about Harry getting involved with each them, and you just couldn't look away. It was a crazy ride!

This is the story of Harry Rose, his many wives, and much scandal. Maybe if I knew more of the history of Henry VIII and all of his wives I would have enjoyed this book more. I found it more of a chore to finish it

This book was a really fun take on the story of King Henry VIII and his six wives in a very modern retelling. There was romance, deceit and fun takes and turns on every page. I'd highly recommend this if you love all things Tudor and I'd definitely recommend it, as well, if you just like fun stories!

Harry Rose soon finds out why it's not a great idea to marry wife after wife after wife. His personal and professional world are imploding and Harry is not sure just who is on his side for real and who is there for the money. Read Wife After Wife by: Olivia Hayfield and fins out for yourself.

DNF at 49%. I prefer genre fiction so I know what to expect out of books and I wasn't sure how to classify this one. It's a modern version of Henry VIII, but what is it beyond that? Why is this story being told?

Wife After Wife brings Henry VIII and his wives into the 21st century. Henry Rose, the scion of Rose Corp, has led an interesting life. The story begins in present day, then flashes back to when he was married to his first wife, Katie, and moves forward from the 80s on. Although I enjoyed how clever Hayfield was with translating 15th and 16th century personas into present day, I had a hard time getting into this one. While Henry VIII is not the most saintly of royals, his pressing need for a male heir was understandable for his time period. I didn't like Harry Rose at all- he's a womanizer and has no real reason for his behavior. I nearly quit reading it, but I wanted to see how all of his wives were treated. I'm glad I finished it. The Anne of Cleves (Anki from Cleveland) storyline was very creative and I thought the Catherine Howard storyline was really well done. Overall, it's a good read.

When I began this book I was not sure that I would finish it, but, as I became more involved in the story, I was glad that I read it. Harry [Henry VIII] Rose has wive after wive. As one reads one tends to relate to King Henry's wives and what happened to them. Will the same thing happen to the 20th/21st century wives of Harry? Interesting premise. Read.

I was really intrigued by the idea behind Wife after Wife, a modern day telling of the life of Henry VIII, but it fell short in execution for me. Harry Rose is a British media mogul married to kind Katie, but as his marriage starts to sour he falls for Ana, a friend of his sister and the art designer for one of his magazines, and this begins the story of Harry's many marriages. This book is a pretty straightforward retelling, though Hayfield notes at the end that her Harry is a kinder, gentler Henry. I enjoyed aspects of this book - Harry's wives are interesting, and I always like reading about the lesser known lives. (Though I particularly liked Ana - she was a good, sympathetic Anne Boleyn.) I also enjoyed some of the ways the story was modernized. But my big issue with this book was how plot-driven it was. Since I already know what happened to Henry VIII's wives, I was more interested in character development, but found that a little light. This is also the third Henry VIII retelling that I've read somewhat recently (Hilary Mantel's Thomas Cromwell books and Hannah Capin's Dead Queens Club), and so I think I wanted something more. I also didn't find Harry all that interesting. That being said, if you like the Tudors and can't get enough this one is worth checking out.

I really enjoyed this one. Although if you are not familiar with Henry VIII, it may not be as enjoyable. I am very interested to see where she takes the next book. It did seem a little long and drawn out at times but I guess that was essential to the story.

I really liked the premise of this book and the idea of it being a modernized take on Henry VIII but unfortunately I could not get into this book. The writing was good, it just wasn't my cup of tea but I'm sure there are many people who will love the book! Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for an ARC copy.

When I was approved for this Netgalley, I literally could not contain my excitement! I have always been fascinated with the story of King Henry VIII and his illustrious wives each with their divine and unique personalities. Let me first say that this book did not disappoint! To appreciate its fabulous-ness, one must not have an active knowledge or appreciate of this Tudor history, not in the least. However, the parallels that are drawn by Hayfield as she modernizes this tale of old are fascinating, amusing, and on point for the ones of us who do. Harry Rose is the modern day medial mogul or Rose Corporation. He's our Henry. Through the bad behavior that catches up to his lifestyle, we follow a journey through the man who truly does the idea of love and possibly not even "love", itself. As you follow along this mesmerizing and glittering tale of lavish parties, unique dispositions and virtually every form of bad behavior that does catch up in the end, you re sure to be entertained and filled with delight! Recommend to the fullest!

I literally squealed with joy when I got my advanced copy of Wife after Wife from Berkley and Netgalley. It’s billed as a modern-day account of Henry VIII and his wives. Literally could not be more up my royal-loving alley.⁣ In this modernization, Harry is a media mogul and owner of Rose Corp. Obviously I know all about the wives of Henry VIII, but I had no idea that Anne would be a magazine editor or Jane would be recast as a lowly secretary. ⁣ I gobbled up the details and I can say that it’s been a pure indulgence. It’s been absolutely delicious to see how the ladies go down. Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived. 4 stars

My Highly Caffeinated Thought: A tantalizing looks in the rich and famous as they misbehave, reap the rewards and suffer the consequences.

In all honesty, WIFE AFTER WIFE reads like a juicy gossip magazine. For those who have the background knowledge of the wives and philandering of Henry VIII, you will no doubt love the modern twists Hayfield took. However, you don’t have to know the history to enjoy this book. The ups, downs, lies, deceptions, and affairs all stand on their own.

What makes this book, so bingeable is the way the author lifts the curtain and gives her readers what all the characters are thinking. It is like having an exclusive interview with one of the rich and famous. Oh, the things we learn from Henry, his wives, lovers, and his family.

Taking liberties to develop and reinvent some of the characters, Hayfield did a respectable job retelling this tale. However, I think the book is best approached with fresh eyes. Leave behind your expectations and go for a ride filled with betrayal, unfiltered desire, love, and the unfortunate repercussions of these actions.

Wife After Wife
by Olivia Hayfield
Berkley Publishing Group
Berkley
Women's Fiction
Read an Excerpt
Pub Date 21 Jan 2020 | Archive Date 21 Feb 2020

The story of Henry VIII and his many wives. This was not a hit for me. Someone who enjoys Tudor books might enjoy it more. I was given the ARC of this book from Berkley Publishing and Net Galley.

This book was a disappointment.

I wanted to read this book because it was modeled after King Henry VIII. I was briefly obsessed with learning about this historical figure and his wives but really became more when The Tudors, the television show aired back on Showtime.

All I could picture were the cast of the television show as the characters in this book. Which I am not complaining as I have a crush on Jonathan Rhys Meyers. So, that helped a lot. While I did appreciate the author's modern retelling of this story; I felt like it should have just stayed in the present. The back and forth from past to present was a bit much and not required in my mind. Plus, if this book had been just modern, it would have helped me to separate the past better.

Harry is definitely a womanizer. He is the type of guy that women may want to sleep with but they should not marry or date. Thus the trail of wives that Harry leaves behind. There was a lot of time spent on each woman. The story could have spent some less time on their stories and still been good. Overall, I did not like this book. However, I am willing to give this author another try.

If you are a fan of Tudor stories then this book is definitely worth checking out! It is obvious that a lot of historical research was done and the book was cleverly constructed to mimic history but in our modern times. I loved the idea of this huge cast of characters that many know well and looking at how modernity might have shaped them and changed things. That being said I did have a couple issues with the book. I didn't enjoy Harry as the main narrator, there were far too many POV's so I couldn't really connect with any of them and the book had quite a few slow places that were tough to get through. Overall I did enjoy it though and if it sounds like an interesting read to you then I recommend checking it out.

4 stars

Henry VIII and his many wives, but modernized and given a few memorable twists. This was a joy to read as a Tudor-era fan, and it had some quirks.

Concept: ★★★★★
Pacing: ★★★ 1/2
Enjoyment: ★★★★

Wife After Wife is exactly as it's billed on the ticket: Henry VIII is Harry Rose, modern-day media mogul, and this is the story of his many wives.

Now, full disclosure, I love any and all things related to the Tudor time period, include modern retellings. So I loved this for the concept alone. But, separate from the concept, I thought the author's decision to place a Henry VIII-type male character was an interesting one in the context of the #MeToo movement. Was it executed well? That depends.

Harry Rose meets his first wife, Katie—Catherine of Aragon—when he's barely 20 and she's 25. It's the 1980s, and things are going great. Except, that is, for Harry's wandering eye and Katie's fertility issues.

Then Harry meets Merry—Mary Boleyn—when she's married to a closeted gay man and he's still with Katie. Uh oh. A little fun on the side never hurt anyone, right? ...Maybe Katie might disagree.

Ana—Anne Boleyn—is the fashion editor at Harry's company, in charge of running Harry's magazine in the 1990s. So what if she's Merry's sister? Even though Ana's not initially interested in her sister's leftovers, Harry is persistent. And Harry gets what he wants.

And so on...Harry gets what he wants.

The story of Henry VIII and his many wives is relatively popular, so I will stop there at the third famous wife, Anne Boleyn. Now on to some thoughts!

I thought Wife After Wife did a few things incredibly well, including the characterization of all of the women in Harry Rose's life. They were complex, they were products of their decades, and they struggled to maintain a life in the vortex of a supremely powerful and egotistical man.

My problem with Wife After Wife lies with Harry Rose. Harry reads just like Henry VIII to a fault. During the Tudor time period, yes, men could do what they wanted and women just had to take it—they had no agency at all. But in the 1980s? The 1990s? The 2010s? I struggled with Harry's stagnate personality as not only did it not age well with the times, it also became increasingly hard to read his sections. Harry never grew, never changed...he just kept sleeping with all of these women, cheating, lying, and then victim-blaming his wives for problems that were clearly started by him.

Wife After Wife kept this portrayal accurate to the historical reference, but I found it increasingly hard to believe that these women in the 1980s-2010s just let him get away with it, and let him continue to believe his own deluded version of himself. It works with a king, but you'd have to suspend your believe further to believe that it works seamlessly with a more modern couple. I'm not sure if it would have been possible to portray Harry in a satisfying way AND keep him historically referenced, but it did cause a sticking point in my reader enjoyment.

However, other than that this novel was a lot of fun. Let's bring back the Tudors in modern fiction some more—I love it!

Thank you to Berkley for this title in exchange for an honest review.

Wife After Wife is a fresh and imaginative retelling of the story of Henry VIII and his wives. I wasn’t sure how such an expansive story would work when whittled down to one book, but Olivia Hayfield manages it wonderfully, getting the spirit of the real life inspiration and events right while modernizing the story. Spanning from the 1980s to 2018, Wife After Wife is by turns entertaining and tragic.

Whether you know Tudor history or not, this book stands on its own, which is a mark of a good reimagining. Harry Rose’s journey from wealthy playboy to aging mogul facing the music in the modern area is as breezy and frustrating as the man himself. Harry has charm and self-esteem to spare, but he also has this irritating ability to absolve himself of any wrongdoing. Whether it’s cheating on a wife or something even worse, Harry always manages to make himself the victim or the hero, depending on the situation. He’s not a likeable character, but he’s a compelling one and you can see why each of his wives are drawn to him. Ms. Hayfield does a fantastic job with Katie (Catherine of Aragon), Harry’s first wife. She’s an honest-to-goodness kind and generous woman. She’s not saintly, nor is she perfect, and her battles with loss and depression broke my heart. She’s a well-drawn, complex character who is easy to adore and she has a core of strength and kindness which make her shine. Equally well-drawn is Ana (Anne Boleyn). She’s talented, whip-smart, and ambitious. I have a huge soft spot for Anne Boleyn, so it was incredibly easy for me to love Ana. As with her real-life counterpart, I loved and hated her trajectory, watching Harry pursue her and know she was going to give in. I pretty much hated Harry than during Ana’s time in the spotlight, but I did enjoy their tumultuous relationship until its tragic end.

Wife After Wife loses some steam after Ana is out of the picture, which is a pity. But I did love how Ms. Hayfield brought to life the rest of Harry’s wives, with the notable exception of Janette (Jane Seymour), who I found unbearably obnoxious. Anki was a fun and creative spin on Anne of Cleves and Clare (Catherine Parr) rounded out the wives perfectly. The most compelling of the latter four wives was Caitlyn (Catherine Howard). She was the most interestingly crafted alongside Katie and Ana; everything about her storyline broke my heart and once again I found myself loathing Harry. To say he’s an imperfect character would be an understatement, but Ms. Hayfield does an incredible job of blending the loathsome with the charming, creative, and sometimes loving man.

Wife After Wife is a delightfully creative retelling of history. The life and times of each decade really blend well with the story – more so than I ever could have imagined. All in all, the larger-than-life characters made this an entertaining read and I definitely would love to read more about Harry and Ana’s daughter, Eliza.

As a Tudor enthusiast, Wife After Wife was the perfect read. Fans of the Henry VIII saga and his six wives will find this modern day re-telling unique and entertaining. With Harry Rose of the Rose Corporation starring as Henry VIII, Ana Lyebon (designer) as Anne Boleyn, and Clare Barr (nurse) as Catherine Parr (just to name a few), the cast of characters resembled their historical equivalents with lots of pizzaz . Hayfield's attention to detail was completely on point. Some of my favorites were the Rack Magazine (How brilliant is that for a name?), Charles Lisle (I love Charles Brandon) and of course the 21st century glitz and galas. Even though I know the tale of Henry VIII and his six wives inside and out (I named one of chickens, Anne Boleyn), I still found this book exciting and fresh. Yes, I knew everyone's fate in the story, but to see how it played out with a modern twist kept me on the edge of my seat. Hayfield's book was charming, witty and beyond clever. I hope she writes more stories similar to this one.

**Thank you to Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was bloody brilliant! Olivia Hayfield retells The story of King henry VIII with a modern twist. Engaging and entertaining, packed with glitz, glamour, drama, deceit, revenge, grief, passion, and charm. The concept of the story was so clever and I loved learning some history in a contemporary setting. The story was well researched and Miss Hayfeild inventively brings the story into the 21st century. There were also plenty of pop culture and political references sprinkled throughout the book that added even more authenticity. I found myself frequently heading to Google to find out what had actually happened to Henry and his many wives, and I am just so impressed how creative the storytelling in this book was. I am keeping my fingers crossed that Olivia Hayfeild has plans to write more stories in the same manner. This seriously was such an amazing way to capture and learn about history. I’m not going to go into the plot, it is a book that spans over 30 years with a large cast of characters. It’s a little on the longer side, but it never lost my attention. Harry was a lovable character who I occasionally despised, because his actions at times were questionable at best. The wives we’re all so interesting, strong savvy women who were bewitched by Harry’s charm. Well told, well researched, well done.

this book in emojis 👑 💍 👸🏻 👸🏻 👸🏻 👸🏻 👸🏻 👸🏻