This interesting and suspenseful story was original but I was not as twisty or full of the usual turns that I am used to from Sally Hepworth. I enjoyed this one but I admit it is not ranked as high and the her other books.

Of all the words I expected to use in a Sally Hepworth book review, disappointing wasn’t one of them.

But when it comes to The Younger Wife, that’s exactly how I feel—and it pains me to say so.

The story begins simply: sisters Tully and Rachel are bridesmaids at their father Stephen’s wedding. Stephen, a wealthy doctor, divorced their mother, who now suffers from Alzheimer’s in a nursing home. But she unexpectedly shows up at the wedding, leaving everyone wondering why?

Stephen’s new bride, Heather, is young enough to be his daughter. What are her true intentions? When a loud thud is heard at the wedding, why is Stephen the one to fall? Is Pamela, the ex-wife, out to cause chaos? Or is Heather looking to cash in? As Tully and Rachel dig for the truth, long-buried secrets rise to the surface—before a honeymoon turns into a funeral.

I had been eagerly anticipating this thriller for ages. My expectations were sky-high since Sally Hepworth had never let me down before. After The Good Sister, I assumed the Queen of Domestic Suspense could do no wrong.

This is listed as a suspense novel/women's fiction, and it technically is. However, there are a lot of VERY heavy topics that come up as well, and the author didn't handle it as well as I would have wanted. I also was not a fan of the ending. It doesn't make me want to pick up other books by this author.

If you haven't experienced a Sally Hepworth novel you are missing out on a fabulous author. That being said since I am a nut for Sally this book has been my least favourite and I have read them all. Something was just off with this one and I HATE saying that.

The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth is a gripping, page-turning psychological thriller that delves into family dynamics, secrets, and betrayal. The story revolves around a wealthy man, his two grown daughters, and his much younger fiancée, exploring the tensions that arise when hidden truths begin to unravel.

Hepworth’s writing is sharp and full of suspense, skillfully weaving multiple perspectives to create a sense of mystery and intrigue. The characters are complex, with each one harboring their own secrets, which keeps the reader guessing throughout the book. The tension between family members is palpable, and the slow build-up to the dramatic reveals is expertly executed.

Overall, The Younger Wife is a fast-paced, twisted tale full of suspense and unexpected twists. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy psychological thrillers with rich character development and plenty of shocking surprises.

The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth is a suspenseful and twist-filled domestic thriller that delves into secrets, lies, and family dynamics. The story follows a woman named Tully, whose father is marrying a much younger woman, leaving her to navigate the complexities of their relationships while uncovering shocking truths. As the story unravels, Hepworth keeps readers on edge with surprising revelations and complex characters. With her signature blend of suspense, wit, and emotional depth, The Younger Wife is a gripping read for fans of psychological dramas and family thrillers.

Dysfunctional family drama meets mystery thriller in this captivating story. I love reading about dysfunctional families, and this one did not disappoint in that regard. However, I would say it leans more towards family drama than a mystery thriller.

The Aston family is filled with secrets. Stephen Ashton is getting married to a much younger woman after divorcing his wife, who has Alzheimer's. During the wedding, someone in the family gets hurt or killed while they are signing the wedding paperwork. As readers, we embark on a journey to uncover who these family members are and the secrets they have been hiding for years.

I really enjoyed this book; it kept me entertained throughout. While the mystery itself was somewhat lackluster, the family drama was top-tier. Tully brought a hilarious element that kept the story fun and engaging. Don’t approach this book expecting a major mystery with twists and surprises; it's primarily a family drama story, but it is very well done.

3.75 Stars

I always enjoy Sally Hepworth’s books, and The Younger Wife was no exception! The premise is packed with drama—a wealthy older man introduces his much younger fiancée to his adult daughters, even though he’s still married to their mother, who has dementia. Right away, you know secrets are lurking beneath the surface, and the family dynamics are messy in the best way.

Hepworth does a fantastic job weaving multiple POVs together, making it easy to get sucked into the story. The characters are flawed but interesting, and I found myself questioning everyone’s version of the truth. The mystery element kept me engaged, and while some twists were predictable, others genuinely surprised me.

Sally will always be an auto-buy author for me!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

In The Younger Wife the story unfolds from the points of view of Rebecca, Tully, and Heather. Rebecca and Tully are sisters struggling to accept Heather - their fathers new young bride to be while their mother is in a home with dementia.

I could not put this one down. Sally Hepworth is an auto read author and I recommend this one!

I really enjoyed this newest novel by Hepworth. It was more of a slower burn and with the shorter chapters my mind was reeling with possibilities as I was trying to figure out what was going on and how it would all end. I really loved Rachel's character, she's a baker and I felt like I could taste her creations. I loved the nod to Austen with her love interest's name of Darcy. I especially appreciated the basis for this novel in the author's note and her real like money in a hot water bottle story.

I ended up being quite surprised by the end of this book and I found it refreshingly satisfying.

Sally Hepworth does it again. Hepworth has mastered the art of capturing the imperfections of people and the complications of family dynamics in a captivating way. There were twists I did not see coming as well as character development that made you frustrated with them while simultaneously wanting to hug them (my favorite kind). The Younger Wife was an engaging and thoughtful read that keeps you on your toes.

Sally Hepworth is a favorite author who always manages to surprise me with her story lines.
In THE YOUNGER WIFE, we meet a family that has so many blemishes on their perfect facade that it was a question on how their stories would roll out. A young woman marries a much older man with 2 daughters close in age to that of his new wife, plus he has an ex-wife in a memory care facility. But can anyone live 60+ years without acquiring one or two habits that just might generate some questions if they were uncovered before the wedding? Can the sisters accept a step mother taking the place of their mother? Just what is going on when the wedding is interupted with a scream? With Sally Hepworth driving this train, there's no telling what we will find on the next page. She always leaves this reader wanting just a little more.

3.5, rounded up to 4 solely based on the last chapter.

Sometimes you read a book and you see all the foreshadowing and you just know what the twist is gonna be and then you get slapped in the face with a twist and it’s not the last twist and then you sit there, slack jawed as you bask in the twistyness of the twists.

That’s how I felt with this Sally Hepworth novel about three women all tied to one older man. For two of them, he’s their father that they’ve always loved but also can’t claim to know very well. The third, his new fiancée- younger than his daughters - and replacing his wife who he’s technically still married to but who has advanced dementia.

Secrets among the three of them like cancers, leading to doubt, suspicion and maybe even some paranoia as the wedding approaches. A wedding day filled with bloodshed…

Excellent mystery. I loved the premise and the surprises throughout. Great character building and plot development.

I’ve liked all of Sally Hepworth’s books and “The Younger Wife” didn’t disappoint! I loved the twists; kept me quickly turning pages.

This book was tricky. I’m usually a fan of those twisty books, but twisty doesn’t seem to be the right adjective for this one. Tricky feels more right.

There was a lot going on here. There were multiple POVs, each with a specific vice (food, shoplifting, alcohol). Everyone dealing with some kind of trauma.

I mostly enjoyed this book. It was intriguing and there was always something happening. What I didn’t like was that the trauma isn’t handled well and it felt like one big gaslighting party. You could say things are resolved, in a way, but ultimately, it’s left pretty open to interpretation, which felt like a disservice to its characters. It was disappointing. I know what I think but it’s up to the reader to make their own decision.

Family Secrets and Trauma

Overall, The Younger Wife is a thought-provoking and emotionally charged novel that explores the intricacies of family relationships and personal trauma. Sally Hepworth's skillful storytelling and complex characters make this book a notable addition to the domestic suspense genre.

This was a good mystery, but a very depressing book. Everyone in this story had issues and a lot of problems. It moved along at a very even pace - no highs or lows, just a steady pace. I wasn't very invested the characters.

The saving grace was the ending.

I love Sally Hepworth's writing style. I was hooked from page one and didn't stop reading until I was finished. There were so many twists and turns. I highly recommend it for thriller readers!

I have read most of Sally Hepworth's books, as they are full of great writing, mystery and relationships. I enjoyed this one as I have all the others, I thought that this book drew out the characters really well and I loved this book. I look forward to reading all of her coming books!