This is a devilish twist on the domestic thriller. With both pageturning plot and chilling insights into the nature of being human, this story will stay with you long after you finish.

I feel like this book can be read by anyone. It’s very versatile in the writing and concept. This is about a woman who is a clone research scientist (I am sure there is an actual term for this) who you meet knowing that something terrible has happened. You really dig into her character, her past with her present.
I was surprised that I did not love this more. I just feel like I was expecting a bigger bang then there was as far as the “conflict/twist”. HOWEVER the ay the story really folds into each other from the main character to others was very good. The vines connecting everything together was the story for me.
Give it a shot and I believe you will not be disappointed.

This was a thought-provoking and very interesting novel. The story follows the trials of a woman whose ex-husband has illegally and without her knowledge created a clone of her. While the story is set in a science-fiction parallel world, I found that most aspects of the novel don't deal with the science-fiction. Instead, it is a story of betrayal, heartbreak, growth, and the human spirit. Despite not liking the protagonist, I still ripped through this novel. It was an interesting introspection on the relationships that create us, and the many facets through which we build our visions of ourselves. The author subtly weaves a narrative that allows the reader to consider how our upbringings shape us and whether we are defined by our natures or nurture. The end of the novel left me filled with foreboding as I felt the main character began to display traits that she had previously despised in her father. I found myself returning to the storyline and the characters many times after completing the novel. It was haunting.

So...I liked the book. It kept me interested and invested until the end. But I really wanted to love this book, but unfortunately, I didn't. The book is billed like it's a rollercoaster ride of a thriller with a lot of twists...like a 90s thriller, but in book form. But it turned out to be more of a morality drama, where all of the thriller/fun aspects take place off the page. We never see the "fun" or the "thrills". We see the after effects, and what the characters do from there. And every time it looks like things are about to heat up, it pivots left, and goes back to character drama.

While there's absolutely nothing wrong with a character driven morality tale...this book begs for more. This should be the tale of two women who try to outsmart and bring down a murderous, menacing husband by any means necessary. It should be a new version of "Diabolique", by way of clones. There should also be a dual narrative so we can see Martine's side of things, which I think might be why this felt so one-note and non-thrilling. Because we only see the events through Evelyn's eyes, we never get a sense of fulfillment. The Seyed storyline also falls a bit flat, because it becomes a "twist" and then the character disappears. Again, there could have been more thrills from that aspect, never knowing what he might do with the information he falls into. (Also, that "twist" wasn't necessary. It did nothing for the story, and he could have been much more to the overall nuances that come later for the characters.)

Where the book really falls flat is the non-closure ending. It felt like the end of an episode, where it's going to be picked right back up next week. This book begs for closure. And not to beat a dead horse (or clone, in this case)...it all comes back to this book being written as a thriller, and not a morality drama. Is it fine as is? Eh. I'm not upset I read it. It was a fast read. But then it needs to not be billed as a twisty thriller. Other readers may not be as forgiving by the end of this tale, because there's so much potential here...and it just seems...wasted.

I wish this was coming out earlier so I could share it with more people! This felt like the best, non-confusing aspects of Westworld with a little Blake Crouch and Liane Moriarty. Such a fun and creative premise, really think it would be a great holiday release rather than Feb deadzone.

I rarely give 5 stars, and when I do, it's because a book surprises me. This story does that in a chilling, the Talented-Mr.-Ripley- way.

Evelyn Caldwell is a brilliant scientist with a shadowed past. She inherited both her IQ and her talent for secrets from her parents, and their story is revealed through frequent references throughout. How important her parents are to the current narrative becomes more evident deeper into the story. Because no matter how much Evelyn convinces herself she's nothing like her mother and father, the more she pours herself into the mold they created.

When she finds out her ex-husband stole her research to create a clone of her - a literal Stepford wife - Evelyn is furious...and mildly curious. She can't help but be a bit intrigued at how her ex's plans turned out, and she's both repulsed and intrigued at her first meeting with the new wife. She's also outraged, and that emotion erupts in a manner that sets a chain of events in motion. Evelyn is constantly falling into her own traps, and then attempting a rescue from them, both for herself and the clone. She's convinced she's smart enough to out-run every lie she tells.

Evelyn isn't a good person, or a traditional female heroine in any way. She's ruthless, ambitious, self-centered and determined, all qualities I enjoyed experiencing through her. Very few female heroines have technical, demanding careers, and for this reason, I found The Echo Wife a nice change from usual tropes.

Excellent and chilling. I've loved this author's previous books and this one didn't disappoint. Very much has a "Black Mirror" vibe.

ALMOST divorced Evelyn (from Nathan) wins a scientific award. At the banquet, she knows that she cannot discuss certain aspects of her work or her marriage..

The reader realizes that Evelyn is working (with her brilliant co-worker, Seyed) on a form of "human" research.- using human growth hormone in her studies. After all, Evelyn thinks that, thanks to Nathan, the legacy of her award is a "shameful disaster".

The following day, Evelyn gets a call from Martine - she wants to go to tea. Evelyn has no choice. She has to go...

At first I thought I had read a similar book - but NO! This is great read! I finished the book in one day. The characters were very well-developed and the suspense/thrills kept coming!

RECOMMEND

Many Thanks to MacMillan-Tor/Forge Publishers and NetGalley for a great story!

Gailey's latest is like a Megan Abbott novel with a speculative twist. Evelyn, a brilliant scientist who has made seismic leaps in the field of human cloning, discovers that her husband has been having an affair... with a clone of Evelyn. This begins a series of knock-on tragedies and secrets that force Evelyn to question the morality of everything she's done -- all while keeping the reader white-knuckled to the page because of the various possibilities that ~everything~ might go wrong. While the plot sometimes overdrives and simultaneously the expository science can sometimes get in the way, Gailey's turned in a terrific thriller and they continue to prove that they're one of the brightest new stars in the SFF firmament.

As soon as I saw "a new book from Sarah Gailey," I knew I would love it, and I was absolutely not disappointed. The Echo Wife is a chilling, sharp, deeply unsettling read from an author who excels at sharp and unsettling. Evelyn Caldwell is a crisply logical, damaged, brilliant character filled with the rage of a smart woman in a sexist world - a rage that, as the reader, I felt viscerally drawn in by - and the gradual, glorious character trajectories of both her and the cloned Martine have the inevitability of an avalanche. The book raises plenty of fascinating philosophical questions, without attempting to give easy answers, but it's all woven into the fabric of a truly haunting novel. My one critique would be that it feels like a story that could have been told in a slightly shorter novella form - yes, even though the book as written is still quite short, a few passages drag just a tad, as Evelyn's internal monologue reiterates feelings and questions we've been over before. But that's a minor complaint, and one that pales particularly in light of the stunning ending. I'm running out of synonyms for "haunting," but The Echo Wife has left me haunted. I can't wait for everyone else to read it, so I have someone to shudder with.

CW: Murder, domestic abuse, pregnancy, child abuse.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for the advance review copy! I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Upon first reading the publisher's marketing for this title my thoughts were, "That sounds really messed up... I want to read it." Evelyn Caldwell has made a name for herself in the scientific community for her successful, award-winning cloning research. This would be all well and good if her ex-husband Nathan had not left her for a clone of herself, Martine, that he had created in secret. One evening Martine calls Evelyn in a panic asking her to come quickly to her and Nathan's place. The events that unfold are filled with suspense, moments of horror, and bringing to light the ever recurring question: What makes us human?

Wowza, I don’t think I’ve quite read a book like this, but I did enjoy it a lot! It’s a bit of a different read, one which I have a hard tone explaining, but did thrill, chill, and shock me! Very fast paced, thrills and chills, with maybe a bit of science fiction mixed within! Definitely original, unique, and amazingly written! Make sure you preorder as soon as possible; as I have a feeling this might be the book everyone is talking about! Quite fast paced, intense, and just completely unputdownable! Highly, highly recommend!
Will make sure to buzz around platforms and use lower Amazon reviewer number on release date!

Not my thing, unfortunately. I liked Gailey's "Magic For Liars" and was looking forward to seeing the author's take on a more sci-fi premise. But this was more "wife thriller" than I had bargained for, plus it turns out I'm not that interested in the science of cloning.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC.

Wonderful little sci-fi-ish book! It takes place in the future, where Evelyn Caldwell is the genius scientist who discovers the secret to adding personality traits to clones. Her husband Nathan, another scientist, is jealous, of course, since he doesn't have half of her intelligence, and he wants her to have a baby and stay at home! SO, he begins an affair, and Evelyn is determined to find out who the new lady is. She is in for a shock when she discovers what Nathan is up to. This is a well written thriller, and I really had no idea where any of it was heading, but loved the ride! .Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for my preview of this fantastic story.

This novel had me hooked from just the summary alone — a man having an affair with the clone of his wife? What an incredible, original concept.
The novel itself was a quick, fast-paced read for me that I found hard to put down. I did see some of the twists coming, but others stunned me; the characters were also extremely compelling. Especially Martine, the protagonist’s clone. All in all this was an exciting read that I can confidently recommend to those that are seeking an original psychological thriller.

Sadly The Echo Wife just wasn't really my cup of tea. It's well-written, thought provoking, and would be great for folks who like thrillers with a touch of sci fi, and is an interesting exploration of near-future tech and its moral implications. Lots of Orphan Black vibes and some fun twists. May not appeal as much to folks who are solidly sci fi/fantasy readers, like myself.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

The premise of the book is Evelyn, a ground breaking scientists, has just divorced her husband for having an affair. The catch, the woman he's having an affair with is her illegal clone.

I could not recommend this book more. This was a smart, thriller, with light sci-fi in it. The main character was punch, vulnerable, and not taking any of this bad relationship. There was one twist after the other in the plot, and I could not stop reading.

Highly recommend for folks who want just a touch of sci-fi in their literary fiction.

The Echo Wife is a fantastic read! Sarah Galley writes with pitch perfect prose and has an amazing talent for creating suspense on every page. Highly recommended.

Having never read a book about cloning I was skeptical about it but I really loved this book. I couldn't stop reading it. There are so many layers to the story and the characters I was sorry to see it end.

This is my first Sarah Gailey novel and it does not disappoint. I look forward to reading more from her in the future. This book is all about lies, betrayal, secrets, affairs and a doppleganger. There are twists galore and many suprises. I love the characterization and I thought it was going to be predictable, it was not!!! Highly recommended as a suspense/thriller read.

Thanks to Netgalley, Sarah Gailey and Macmillian Tor Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 2/16/21