When two people in a relationship don’t see eye to eye, they either accept their differences or go their separate ways. But how would things be different in a world where cloning is possible? What if you could replicate all of the characteristics that you love about your partner, and eliminate those that you don’t?

Such is possible in the world of Sarah Gailey’s The Echo Wife, in which award-winning scientist Evelyn Caldwall’s husband uses her own research to make a copy of her, and then has an affair with said clone. Yes, Nathan Caldwell is morally bankrupt and unethical to boot. Despite knowing about her clone, Martine, Evelyn chooses to keep her distance, instead focusing on advancing her research and discovering what is possible with science. But when Martine calls up Evelyn one day pleading for help, Evelyn finds herself tangled up in a predicament with Martine worthy of an Hitchcock-Twilight Zone mash-up.

Gailey’s The Echo Wife is a novel crafted with ingenuity and grace. Despite a slow start, this story quickly picks up speed once Martine enters the picture, and after that, I could not look away. Part science fiction, part domestic thriller, The Echo Wife is a cleverly written novel that will appeal to those who are looking for something speculative to come out of the suspense genre. This novel is as thought-provoking as it is intriguing. Furthermore, Gailey has a way with words, and her little touches of self-reflection and introspection sprinkled throughout this novel were affirming and appreciated.

This is my third Sarah Gailey book, and while you’d think that means I know what to expect from their writing, this book just continued to prove that I don’t (in a good way)! Gailey writes such a range of plots and manages to adapt the writing to each one, so reading each book feels like a whole new author every time.

While The Echo Wife isn’t my favorite of theirs, I did enjoy my time with it and I got what I wanted out of the book. The premise of this book was extremely unsettling and creepy already, what with the main character having been cloned and found having an affair with her husband. Gailey delivered on that feeling exactly, and reading this book made my skin crawl for quite a few reasons. It also explored a lot of the ethics and discussions around cloning, and it added an extra layer to the story that made it feel deeper.

I can’t wait to read even more from Gailey in the future!

There's been a rise in domestic thrillers as of late and more being turned into popular streaming series. That really isn't my vibe but when you mix in a speculative fiction talent like Sarah Gailey and compare the book to one of the greatest TV shows ever made, I'm intrigued.

So if you like Orphan Black, a little revenge, and bit of a thriller, you're in for a ride with this one.

The Echo Wife was a quick read with a unique premise, but it fell short on delivering. The main character is extremely unlikeable, with little-to-no redeeming qualities. The science is laughable and doesn't even remotely touch upon what we already know about cloning (which, okay, science fiction gets some freedom, but we KNOW how cloning works). It completely ignores all of the ethical implications that have been brought up in the real world (something a scientist would know, even in an alternate universe) and acts like cloning is a brand-new thing.

3.78 Rating

The Echo Wife was originally an ARC book that I never got a chance to read before its original release.

Science fiction and fantasy are not my bag, but this book has been floating around on my Libby list, and every time I want to check it out, it's gone, so I figure, well, ok, it’s time, and since it was available, I jumped on it.

The book is [mainly] about an award-winning scientist, Evelyn Caldwell, who paved the way with her groundbreaking research in her field. This is where the story begins because Evelyn is on her way to accepting an award, but you also get a sense of how uncomfortable she is at this event and that her husband is missing.

Evelyn and her husband, Nathan, are divorced, and it’s pretty clear that he’s with someone else, but everything has a bitter sting from this point. Science fiction, in my opinion, is usually long and daunting because you have to set the environment and create this world to give us backstory and context, which can take some time. This story was no different, as it details Evelyn’s background in her field, her mannerisms with her assistant, and how she treats her colleagues. The book goes back from the past through the present, her childhood and her relationship with her parents, which played a big part in her adult life.

In some books, I purposefully will not read the synopsis to form an opinion, and I am pleasantly surprised. You feel the character's passion for her work, and while she misses Nathan (her husband), she doesn’t mind being alone. But to give us context, the book tells the story of what happens in their marriage and how there are doubts from the beginning.

It’s not overly graphic but clinical in its description of events. When you think of the title Echo Wife, it’s exactly what it means: a close parallel of an idea, a duplicate, a replica, or a reproduction. I thought the book's premise was interesting and eerie at how replaceable humans can be. Our thoughts and ideas are programmed, downloaded, and fine-tuned to make a better version of ourselves.

It’s an 8 hour audiobook, I got through it in three days. It’s engaging, a bit haunting, detail without being too weighed down, and just enough to keep the reader engaged.

A very interesting and well-written novel. (Which is entirely to be expected from Gailey.) Solid prose, characterization, and engaging plot. Recommended.

I have tried to read sarah gailey so many times. Every single time I end up not liking it. It always sounds like I should. From the blurb or from other reviews. But it just fell short.

I really freaking enjoyed this book. I was able to get through it in a day. Loved how dark and sinister it was. It was such a refreshing story as well as it was one that I haven't read before. The writing was fantastic. The author kept me on a ledge the entire time, not knowing where the book was headed. Highly recommend!

2.5 stars rounded up

Totally get why this works for some people, but honestly I was just bored and it took me way to long to get through this. By the time the plot got interesting, I just didn't care anymore

The Echo Wife was a bit like a toned-down version of a Blake Crouch novel. I enjoyed it and would have enjoyed even more twists and mind blowing reveals. Overall, fun read and I can't believe it took me so long to finally read it.

I was judging the L.A. Times 2020 and 2021 fiction contest. It’d be generous to call what I’d been doing upon my first cursory glance—reading. I also don’t take this task lightly. As a fellow writer and lover of words and books, I took this position—in hopes of being a good literary citizen. My heart aches for all the writers who have a debut at this time. What I can share now is the thing that held my attention and got me to read on even though it was among 296 other books I was charged to read.

“But I watched for that smile. I watched for it every time I dressed up for a date or an event, every time I came home from a conference, every time we made up after a fight. I filled my pockets with that smile, I tucked it away for later, to get me through the lean times when we couldn’t look at each other.”

This book had so much potential and I was so excited to read it but unfortunately, as it has been with a lot of books lately the execution is simply lacking.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for providing a digital copy in return for an honest, unbiased review.

Science fiction is often that genre which shows us the face of a stranger and shocks us by revealing it as our own. Gailey has done that beautifully here, and ironically—for the vision comes from Evelyn looking into her own face on another person and recognizing someone else. Martine may literally be the titular echo wife, but this book is far more than just that literal surface: Gailey plays with the distortions that come from echoes, the estrangements that develop as each iteration falls farther from the source, and shows how those very differences can be orchestrated into a powerfully moving dissonance—one where the individuals stand out rather than blend in to the harmony, forcing us to re-cognize that we, too, contain multitudes.

A.S. Moser

This was a psychological thriller masquerading as sci-fi. Main character who is pretty much a sociopath? Check. Untrustworthy secondary characters? Check. All sorts of bodies? Check. World-building to support any of the science or uphold the plot? Not even a little bit.

The completely bonkers first person narrator certainly helped with the suspension of disbelief, but there was seriously no accountability in this one, no suspicious outsider saying, "huh, that's weird..." and it just made me wonder exactly WHAT kind of world they were living in.

Part thriller, part science fiction. If Michael Crichton and Lee Child had a book baby that was just a little bit of each style then it would be The Echo Wife. While immensely readable, fairly compelling, and an overall good read; I did find myself wandering a few times. One chapter would be all encompassing and them the next a bit boring. The pacing is just a touch inconsistent and that put this one down to four stars for me. But that's not to say that Sarah Gailey hasn't written a wonderful book; because they have. Overall I would classify The Echo Wife as accessible to a large group of readers that aren't just dedicated to one genre (not unlike the Da Vinci Code; but story is written a million times better).

Morality of Cloning
Cloning will always be an immensely interesting subject to me, and it will always be fraught with moral ambiguity. If you can recreate your spouse and tweak them just a bit wouldn't you want to? Many people would instinctively say 'yes'. Except that your new spouse isn't the same tissue or matter that they were before; and they are a little less human (perhaps), but very predictable. Gailey brings us this moral and scientific crisis into a home that is fraught with tension over having a baby or not, over obedience, and (to a certain degree) over professional jealously. I can first-hand attest that it's not a good idea to be in the same industry as your partner (especially the same job position). For a time my spouse and I were competing for the exact same jobs in the design industry; it was tolerable (and proved we do love one another by having excitement for one while disappointment for the other) but I wouldn't suggest it to anyone. Plus it's not a financially stable choice as if the industry tanks you are in trouble with two incomes up in the air. So eventually I swapped industries (totally by choice) and almost a decade later we are much more successful and happy. In the long run, don't do exactly the same thing as your spouse unless you are a tight-knit team together; and even then Gailey shows that you need to be very confident in that relationship.

Mental Manipulation
The next piece of The Echo Wife is a bit more complex and might turn some people off of the novel. There is a fairly significant piece of this novel that is about emotional and mental manipulation and abuse. How much will you do to make your spouse happy? And how much should you have to do to retain a relationship? Certainly work is involved in any happy coupling; but you should not fear for your life or well-being at any time. However, in our cloning context, if you know your partner can easily replace you with another iteration does that change things? If definitely gives a power balance unfairly in one direction. And this is what we see first-hand from two different perspectives (both of the abused woman) in The Echo Wife.
It's important to note a couple things here. One, Gailey has first-hand knowledge of what it feels like to be trapped in a relationship like this (as per her acknowledgements), and two they do an excellent job of representing the contrasting guilt and responsibility that many individuals are plagued with when they feel they are not upholding their side of a relationship. When that is always going to be untrue and manipulation is when the power balance is one-sided. Now that's not to say that there isn't an argument for when a coupling is not working; but wanting to permanently change or control your spouse is never going to be the answer. Never. And so I caution those with triggers for this type of behavior to be aware that the majority of the book does revolve around two controlling and manipulative relationships.

What is Identity?
Finally the third piece of The Echo Wife is the concept of identity. Gailey brings us into some very complex relationships. That between husband and wife (as discussed above), scientist and subject (clone or not), professional colleagues, and somewhere between all these spaces, friendship. Gailey asks questions about friendship in unbalanced power situations, comradery in professional capacities, and ultimately the final element needed for any relationship: trust. If I were to say that there is one message from The Echo Wife to focus on it's that your own perception of your identity including: where it comes from (internal or external), how you define it (your terms or others), and the importance of it to you (ego or id). Gailey is in a very unique position to discuss this at length, as an expert on the subject, identifying as non-binary. Gailey uses the pronouns they/them and embraced their true identity later in life. It's so encouraging to see someone who has struggled with identity share some of that in fictional characters that can help us (the reader) relate to ourselves. I found myself asking about how I validate myself, who I think I am, and why I think I am that person. These are all very pertinent questions for anyone to ask themselves; especially in today's external focused social media crazed world (where you can formulate an identity online without truly being that person).

Overall
I really want to give Gailey's thriller/sci-fi story five stars; and it really was sooo close. I can't quite pinpoint exactly what was missing or not quite there for me but I just didn't feel as compelled to read forward as I wanted to be (or felt I should be). But by no means would I discourage anyone from reading The Echo Wife. In fact this is an easy book to recommend. There is something here for almost everyone. The biggest concern I'd have in recommending this book is that someone may feel triggered by the very personal and emotionally charged mental abuse that is a great focus of this novel.
The Echo Wife is the type of book I will be recommending to my Mother, my friends, my colleagues, and so many others. Not only does it discuss very pertinent issues (such as mental abuse and identity) but it brings some current scientific laws (if you will) into question. I'd recommend picking up The Echo Wife and going on a journey of identity, morality, and reality. What is a living thing? What rights does someone have, and does it matter what that someone is made up of? Be ready to be challenged into considering how you define yourself first (even before you start defining others); and to ask yourself what would you have done given the crisis' presented to our characters (both the 'good' and 'bad' ones).

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

More like 2.5 stars.

I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.

This book was no bad. The concept and ideas for someone who loves sci fi books were spot on. I guess in the end this books just made me feel unsettled and a bit disturbed on many levels. I was feeling both because there seemed so little emotion coming from these characters, they were all quite dull, clone and human alike. And to add to their dullness, the characters did some horrendous things and disposed of bodies of humans and clones like they were used tissues! Often when I read sci fi books like this they are also unsettling because of the possiblity of this ficition become reality....and I definitely felt that with this novel.

Evelyn has focused her career on genetics and cloning and has even been making clones and developing them, to the detriment of her marriage. Which, frankly, I don't feel like she even cared about because....so flat as a character. What makes the end of her marriage seem to hurt even more is her husband, Nathan, left Evelyn for a clone......of Evelyn. (DISTURBING AND UNSETTLING!) Then it gets even more weird when Evelyn and clone (Martine) become buddies....and more disturbing and unsettling things continue to ensue.

The novel wasn't bad, it just felt quite dull at times and even though it was not that long, I feel like it could have been shorter and may have felt less dull. The characters were so flat and no empathy and I just did not really care about anyone. What kept me reading this book was the science and sci fi part of it that was disturbing and interesting, because this could really become a reality. Loved the concept and overarching story, however, this novel just fell flat for me with super boring characters.

I'm sitting here stunned (in the best way possible) by this book. It was emotional, it dynamic, and the story grabbed me and didn't let me stop until I had finished the book. I will be thinking about this one for a good while.

In Sarah Gailey's The Echo Wife, Evelyn is an extremely successful and lauded geneticist whose marriage has just fallen apart. She tries not to care- she has so many more important things to do- but the woman for whom her husband has left her is... her. Well, not her but a clone of her. He stole her research and her supplies and built his own custom-made wife. If he'd left Evelyn for anyone else, it wouldn't matter, but this is her research, and she is responsible for anything that happens with it. And something so big has happened. When he turns up dead, Evelyn and the new wife have to work together to keep all the secrets from getting out.

This book was fun! There are social dynamics and conversations on the value of women. What does it mean for the woman to be the more successful partner in a marriage and how will that affect the relationship? Is motherhood the occupation that should take precedence once it is on the table and what if that is never the goal? Also, how many bodies can one backyard hold?

I really enjoyed the tension and resolution of this book. Add it to your list and keep your eyes on the science news- this could be real someday!

An amazing novel with many issues to reflect on and unpack. The moral dilemmas experienced by the characters are reflections of questions we have all had about our existence, self awareness and what makes us human. The uncovering why each character is the way they are and their change and growth as the narrative progresses is interesting and relatable. The author handles not only the science and logistics of the plot but also the dynamics and relationships of the characters in a masterful and engaging way. The twists are unexpected and thrilling. A must read!

I really enjoyed this. I think this gave me a lot to think about in terms of the gender roles we have in society and the expectations that puts on us. It left me thinking about it for weeks afterwards.
Not your typical thriller but I personally loved the sci-fi twist it added. It felt very personal.
I think it meandered at times near the end and won't be fulfilling for everyone.