Tantalizing. Riveting. This is so slow moving, but in the best way - such that I was on the edge of my seat the entire story, begging for the next reveal. And what a commentary on how women are permitted to hold themselves on society. The ultimate story of feminine resilience and resistance.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for the ARC.

🌟🌟🌟🌟 4/5 stars

The Echo Wife is an inventive sci-fi thriller that is like Stepford Wives meets Orphan Black. It tells the story of Evelyn, a brilliant scientist, and Martine, her genetically cloned replica made from her research. Martine is the perfect version of Evelyn...and she is having an affair with Evelyn’s husband, Nathan. Now Nathan is dead and it is up to her to clean up the mess.

I have always loved The Stepford Wives and when I saw this storyline, I had to read it. It is a completely new take on the typical “Who killed the cheating husband?” storyline. Sarah Gailey does an excellent job of making the science aspect of the storyline as accessible as possible and it never overwhelms the story. Evelyn is a very interesting and complex character and it was fascinating to read her thought process through all of the twists and turns.

Overall, The Echo Wife is a solid spin on the typical thriller. Fans of Stepford Wives and Westworld will love this one!

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 8.5/10

Cloning is an oft-approach sci-fi concept, each version complete with it authors’ own flavor. It is also a concept that has evolved over the years as technology and society have changed. In The Echo Wife, Sarah Gailey’s unique take on cloning has combined with her pointed writing style to create a story that is both thought-provoking and cautionary.

The Echo Wife is an extremely character-driven story (which I am not sure I have ever said about a story with so few characters). It is told from Evelyn’s perspective as scientist and spurned ex-wife. I point out those two sides of her personality, because that is one of the most compelling parts of the narrative: watching Evelyn vacillate between the award-winning and analytic scientist and bitter jilted lover, with lots of room for gray as the two sides tend to overlap when the lines start to blur. The co-star of the book is Martine, Evelyn’s clone created by her ex-husband, Nathan, to be the adoring, obedient, physically flawless version of a wife he alway dreamed of. Martine, too, has a bit of conflict in her mind as she spends much of the book trying to keep up the perfect wife facade she was made to be, while at the same time finding herself. This, of course, comes with all the baggage one might predict. The situation escalates when Nathan is found dead, and now both women are forced into highly disastrous circumstances. They are left trying to figure how to handle the situation and deal with the forthcoming drama. I am not going to get into the plot any further because there are many surprises along the way, and I do not wish to ruin it for you. Just know it is incredibly entertaining.

I also found The Echo Wife to be extremely thematic, as books of this nature tend to be. There is the usual not-so-subtle warning about the too fast progression of unchecked technology and the consequences we may reap because of it. The most pronounced theme in the book, though, is agency – whether or not created beings should have the right to make their own choices. This is a topic I have seen broached in many sci-fi stories as it relates to sentient AI, but clones are different. Clones are not created of metal and wire; they are grown from biological cells that mimic our own. They grow, need sustenance to survive and have feelings. Should we be able to create humans and condition them to obey? And what happens when they don’t? There are a ton of moral and ethical issues at play, and, personally, I enjoy books that make me think about these subjects.

The Echo Wife is a sharply-written, thought-provoking science fiction novel with a narrative that is striking and ominous at times. There are plenty of surprises in the book, as well, that keep the intrigue going all the way through. I recommend it for fans of sci-fi (non-space variety).

This my my first domestic noir/sci-fi review and i didn’t really read the blurb prior to starting the book. An extremely clever, satisfying mashup of genres that works so well, I expect it to take off the way we saw so many novels combining domestic noir and podcasts this past year. Sarah Galley is a expansive talented writer and I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Ahoy there me mateys!  I received this sci-fi eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  So here be me honest musings . . .

I always find this author's work to be interesting and thought-provoking even if I haven't loved all of their stuff.  This was a book full of fun concepts that I enjoyed though it did have some problems.

Evelyn is a bit of a selfish jerk but who doesn't feel bad for her when she finds out about her husband's double life with the clone he made of her.  Talk about messy.  She hates the clone her husband made with her research and without her knowledge.  But when the clone calls needing her help, Evelyn has to agree or everything she worked for will be destroyed.

This book is both a character study and a question about the larger consequences of cloning.  I found Evelyn's backstory to be fascinating.  She is morally ambiguous, driven, intelligent, and compelling.  I keep shifting between rooting for her and kinda hating her.  Martine, the clone, has been designed to be perfect replacement for Evelyn.  She is patient, quiet, docile, and wants the child that Evelyn does not.  However she is hidden and not even considered a person.  She is a specimen.  And illegal.

It was fascinating, if somewhat uncomfortable, to watch Evelyn's conflicting emotions around Martine.  This was the highlight of the novel because Evelyn's thoughts felt both logical and illogical at the same time.  And that dichotomy was the focus of the book for me.  That two impossible and opposite things can exist at the same time.  I also rather liked watching Evelyn go from a rational, if cold, person to being one driven by her emotions.  Her spiral down was fierce.

I particularly enjoyed learning more about the husband, Nathan's, past choices and what went into the making of Martine.  This was also a huge part of the problem though because there were many plot holes and inconsistences that bothered me.  Some of the plot twists were there to be shocking and didn't necessarily make sense with the rest of the structure.  Many of the things Evelyn and Martine had to do on the sly happened so easily.  And some of the plot just plain didn't make sense, especially when dealing with time and resources.  While I enjoyed the ending a lot, the journey to get there didn't quite make sense and I felt like I missed some steps.

That said, it was a quick and fun read and I have no regrets and have been thinking about the book a lot since I put it down.  Arrr!

So lastly . . .

Thank you Macmillian/Tor-Forge!

Five cloning-dilemma stars for this new sci-fi title with a thriller undertone. Ever since Dolly the sheep, cloning has been in our global conversation. Should we clone people, though. The ethical implications are infinite. As you know from reading the synopsis, a scientist discovers that her husband has cloned her with some deviations and is now having an affair with the new and improved Evelyn -- named Martine. Theoretically the clone should stay in her lane, but she doesn't and that sets in motion a domino effect that could threaten Evelyn's life's work. As we learn more about the cloning lab, we start to realize some of the reasons for creating clones while understanding the soul-killing effects that speak against it. Since Martine is pregnant, there is also some exploration of the abortion debate -- which, to be fair is inextricably linked to the issue of cloning. What constitutes a life? Who gets to be in charge? Flashbacks to Evelyn's childhood illuminate many of adult Evelyn's choices to the very end. If you liked 'The Perfect Wife' by J.P. Delaney and Blake Crouch's last two titles, this one is for you.

Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

The Echo Wife is the latest novel by Sarah Gailey, and it blends mystery with science fiction in such thrilling and alarming ways, all as science and possibility takes the forefront.

Evelyn Caldwell is a driven woman. A driven scientist. She is the driving force being cloning, having forged a way for funding and legalities, while making all the scientific breakthroughs to go with it.

Martine Cardwell, in comparison, is patient, kind, and willing to do anything asked of her. In that sense, she's not much like Evelyn. Even though they share the same DNA. Exactly the same DNA, as Marine is Evelyn's clone. One she did not choose to bring into this world.

“It had been vulnerable, where my Neufmann gown was severe. It had been tender, where my Neufmann gown was pitiless.”

I'm going to be honest with you here, I really didn't know what to expect when I started reading The Echo Wife. I knew that I absolutely had to read it, not just because of the unique combination of genres and elements, but because I've loved Sarah Gailey's writing in the past.

If there's one thing I can say about The Echo Wife, it's that it is full of surprises. Evelyn's story is not a gentle one, nor was it ever intended to be. She's brilliant and intense, and it shines through in every aspect.

Her intensity and research raises lots of questions, as frequently it all seems to be so focused on the ability, rather than the ethicality of it all. That alone makes this a great novel to read if one is looking for something thought-provoking.

Likewise, I really enjoyed all of the twists surrounding the husband. As the book description gives away, their husband is a cheater. But he's not a typical cheating husband one finds in the usual thriller novel – there's so much more going on behind the scenes. More than I ever would have even dreamed about guessing, actually.

That's actually one of the highlights for The Echo Wife – it does not have a predictable element. None of it is predictable, actually. Sarah Gailey did a brilliant job of creating something new and different, while also raising plenty of concerns at the same time. It addresses the ethics of many different scientific breakthroughs, as well as characters. It's fascinating, and because of that I'm already finding myself eager to see what Gailey will write next.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley!

The cover of this book is simple but eye-catching.
The storyline was so incredibly unique.. I mean... let's be real. have you ever read a book anywhere near this concept? The clone created with YOUR research is having an affair with your husband... what? But don't worry, there are some absolutely insane twists and turns in this book that you would never think of.
I found myself wanting to read more and more.

I'd definitely purchase a copy and check out other books by the author.

I read the blurb on this and decided I would give it a try even though it’s not quite the genre I like to read, but it’s pretty darn close. I went into this book expecting much more than I got, and the ending was a little anti-climactic. So, why the four stars? It’s still an interesting read about nature vs. nurture and how we behave being tied up in that. The MC is Evelyn who grew up to try not to be her mother or her father, and Martine is the clone of her which I think in the end becomes Evelyn’s salvation to a point. There is a lot of science thrown in, but that can be mostly ignored, and we spend a lot of time in Evelyn’s head; she isn’t exactly a great person. Don’t expect from this book’s blurb what it says. Instead expect a book on how we are so much more different than we think we are, and so much the same. This character-driven book is an interesting one. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

Gailey has some compelling ideas here, and the book starts out strong with Evelyn's biting commentary and observations. Unfortunately, while mostly entertaining, the handful of plotholes and the random tangents detracted from the story.

I would like to say this is a science fiction, but with a dystopian atmosphere?

It's definitely character driven, and I can see the ways of both people. Drama starts to unfold and it's breathtaking. It's kind of like when you see your parents fighting at the dinner table but it's so interesting that you can't help but overhear. It's twisted, dark and such a unique idea. I have no idea how she even came up with this haha, it's bizarre.

To be honest? The characters weren't like able. At all. But they were driven, cold and compelling. It's what made you keep reading more.

Evelyn Caldwell is a geneticist, a leader in the field of producing clones for specific, and generally short-term, uses, is at the height of her career, and has just won a major award. She's recently divorced, but the most important thing is to keep everyone believing it's a completely amicable divorce. Nothing to see here, move along!

The secret she needs to keep is that her ex-husband, Nathan, in the same field but on the faculty of a nearby university, not in private industry like Evelyn, has cloned her.

Cloned her, but slightly modified. Martine is calmer, gentler--more obedient. More deferential. Nathan has, he thinks, made the perfect wife.

When Evelyn finds out Martine is pregnant, she's shocked, outraged--but mostly shocked. Clones are incapable of getting pregnant, by design, and by law. Cloning is not about creating people. Clones are tools, short-term tools, who will put down like terminally ill pets when their usefulness is over. And there is no reason for them to ever be pregnant. If this is discovered, it won't just ruin Nathan. It will ruin her, too, because it's her work he's using.

Then Martine calls Evelyn, tell her she needs to come over immediately. It's very, very important Urgent.

Evelyn has been meeting secretly with Martine, getting her to a clinic for a prenatal exam, and books about pregnancy and what to expect. They're not friends. Evelyn still greatly resents Nathan's actions, and the fact that Martine is her without the traits Nathan never liked--but she also has no patience for Nathans unawareness or unconcern about what being pregnant means for Martine.

Martine, with more information and exposure to someone other than Nathan, finally asked him a critical question. She does want this baby, but she finally asks Nathan if it would matter if it didn't want the baby.

And Nathan is enraged, and attacks her--and Martine manages to kill him, rather than be killed by him.

And if Evelyn doesn't help clean up the mess and solve the problem it creates, it's going to completely destroy her career.

This book was harder for me to get into than Gailey's previous works, because Evelyn is very hard to like. She's not hard to understand, though, once we start to learn about her background. There are compelling reasons she's cold, distant with nearly everyone, and not willing to trust anyone.

What happens makes for serious character development for both Evelyn and Martine.

Recommended.

I received a free electronic galley from the publisher via NetGalley, and am reviewing it voluntarily.

Readers, this is an amazing book.
Imagine being the scientist who perfects cloning. Now, imagine that scientific discovery being stolen by your husband to not only clone you, but to leave you for your own clone. Yeah, completely messed up. As if that isn’t enough drama for you, imagine that clone coming to you for help burying your ex’s body.
Uh huh. I told you, this book is amazing!
From the beginning page, Gailey has given us a story that starts off running and never slows down. From the moment we are introduced to our main character, Dr. Evelyn Caldwell, we know that she is driven, brilliant, and has a complicated childhood which drives her every decision. It was fascinating to see her next to her clone, Martine, and see the nature vs. nurture argument play out in real time. Dr. Caldwell was an interesting character in that she is written as your typical “ice queen” and could care less. She loves science and is determined to be the best in her field. She chose career over family and doesn’t feel guilty about it. When problems come up, she approaches them with an almost clinical calm and thrives on the stress of solving them.
Gailey’s writing is gripping and compelling, driving the story forward through a never-ending series of twists and turns. Very bizarre and creepy turns, but many, many twists and turns. It’s a fascinating exploration of marriage, identity, family, and the effects of abuse.
I absolutely loved this book and if you love a good psychological thriller, you will too.

Evelyn Caldwell is an award-winning geneticist and scientist, renowned for her work in cloning. Sure, her marriage is on the rocks, but she’s making strides in her field, and she feels satisfied with her work.

And then she finds out her husband is having an affair. With a clone he created that looks exactly like her, but made to be a little more ... obedient. Caring. Passive. Involved. All the things Evelyn is not.

And then when Martine - the clone - calls her in desperation one day ... suddenly both the Caldwell wives have a huge mess (literally) on their hands.

A twisty, creepy, sometimes funny book about family, work, lies, betrayal, science, ethics, impossible choices, expectations, motherhood, and loyalty. This is one will stay with me for a long time (and make me think of certain seemingly safe objects MUCH differently).

Renowned scientist, Dr. Evelyn Caldwell, has given her all towards her research on clones. It figures that her husband, Nathan, decided to make a clone of her, Martine, based off her own research no less, to get the things from her he wanted but she wouldn’t give. Namely, a softer, maternally side. Evelyn’s personal life is falling apart but she can’t tell anyone because what Nathan has done could ruin her, not just personally but professionally.
One day Martine calls Evelyn in a panic, something has happened and she needs Evelyn’s help. The problem? Nathan is dead and now Evelyn and Martine have a heck of a mess to clean up.
What follows is a journey into the person Evelyn is and the events that shaped her, and the person who Martine is becoming despite what she was made for.
***
This story was a ride, a very twisty bizarre ride.
It’s got a lot of the usual questions/drives that come up in clones or even AI stories. It’s a lot of nature versus nurture. Who are we without memories, are we the same person if we don’t have the memories of the things we’d done, can we be held responsible still for those things? Where does a clone/AI become a person versus a thing created? Where do rights end and begin?
Despite all those things though at the heart of a story is the story of Evelyn, a hard, work driven woman who most people would look at and call cold and ice queen, and probably make derisive comments about for choosing her career over wanting kids. (In a man that’s admirable but in a woman it’s apparently unnatural or something. Someday, people will mind their own business.) There are things Evelyn went through that has shaped her into the person she is and as you explore her past you can see how those moments have become part of who she is now, but you can also see the affect Martine has on her as well now, and the conflict of past and present have on Evelyn. The story felt like a character study of Evelyn.
It was an interesting story, a little bit slow going, but intriguing.
***
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I was able to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Echo Wife is about renowned geneticist Evelyn Caldwell who has successfully cloned a human. Her ex-husband left her for his new fiancee Martine who happens to look a lot like Evelyn. A little too much like Evelyn. When Evelyn gets a call from Martine to meet for lunch, she learns that Martine is pregnant. However, clones aren't supposed to be able to get pregnant.
This is an amazing science fiction book and one of the best books about clones that I've ever read. The science is understandable and reasonable. The characters are very well created and the plot is well written and brisk.

I could not put this book down and it has put me in a bit of a "book hole". Evelyn is unabashedly unlikable but Ms. Gailey makes you love her anyway. I didn't find the plot at all predictable and it was very well paced. She did a great job of setting up the story line without dwelling on the boring bits too long but giving you enough that you didn't feel like she was just skipping ahead. There are definitely parts that you have to turn off your common sense radar for but its still a fun little read.

This book is not for me because I didn't like the main character Evelyn. She is brilliant but also selfish and condescending. I was really turned off because early in the book, Evelyn has an abortion because she doesn't want children to hinder her research career. I skimmed ahead, but chose to not read the rest of the book. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through Netgalley. Even though the book looked interesting, it was not for me.

The Echo Wife followed Evelyn, a scientist with award winning research about clones. Martine is a replica based around Evelyn’s research. Martine also happens to look just like Evelyn, and is currently married to Evelyn’s ex-husband. Or was, until he died, and now Evelyn is helping her clone clean up the mess.

The Echo Wife was such an interesting premise, and it deals with a lot of deeper questions hidden within a well-written, fun story. Evelyn is constantly asking questions about whether the people around them would notice the differences if a clone or a person changed, and examining th effects that people have on your life. It looks deeply into the sense of free will, not only as people, but for the clones they create. I loved how deep and meaningful the story got, while examining an unlikely friendship between someone who shouldn’t exist, while dealing with the lose of their husband. The sense of loneliness, and lack of connection the characters feel is very relatable, and just pulls you in deeper to their story.

My only problem with The Echo Wife was for how exciting and fast I flew through the start of the book, the ending did feel a little less engaging than the rest of the story. While it doesn’t hinder how much I enjoyed the book as a whole, I did want just a little more from the ending.

Gailey, so far, has done no wrong for any books I’ve read by them, and thankfully The Echo Wife continues with that trend to writing engaging, fun books that more people need to pick up. The Echo Wife is more of a soft Sci Fi, so not only is it an exciting introduction to Gailey’s work if you’ve not read any before, but it’s also a really manageable introduction to Sci Fi if you’ve been interesting in exploring the genre more.

This one is special because it hits the shelves on February 15th of this year - widely celebrated in some cultures as “my birthday.”

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This one is very well written in terms of your average #psychologicalthriller #domesticsuspense read. This one, for me, was super enjoyable and an easy read, although it was less for the “thrill” aspect (I kept waiting to get chills and, generally speaking, never did), and more for the actual deep, intellectual questions the plot posed. This one had me really thinking and it is so easy to feel sympathy towards two of the main female leads. Think #Westworld meets #StepfordWives meets #DesperateHouswives.

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The story follows Evelyn Caldwell at the pinnacle of her career and the end of her marriage. Her entire life has been built upon her research and advances in cloning technology. As luck would have it, her notoriously pathetic and needy husband (one of the worst “book boys” I have ever been forced to read about) used her hard work and research to create his new wife - a clone of Evelyn - but geared towards his every waking need and want.

•

The problem? Things get out of hand. Unlikely allies form. And the lines between ethics, morality, and identity are forever blurred. This one dives deep into what it means to be a person, nature vs nurture and why we are the way we are and what makes us truly “us” - dna, experience, memory, conditioning, desire, pure chance? A brilliant look at what we are owed as human beings and where we find our true identity and purpose.