CW: abuse (sexual, physical, and emotional), food binging

Having read The Mother-in-Law I was a bit more prepared for Sally Hepworth's latest book, which is less thriller/mystery and more domestic drama. With that expectation, I enjoyed reading The Younger Wife.

The main "mystery" of The Younger Wife is what exactly happened at the unconventional wedding of Stephen and Heather when the officiant comes yelling for a doctor with blood dripping from their clothes. Who was injured? And most importantly, who did it?

To be honest, I didn't find those questions to be my main motivation for reading. Rather, the main draw of this novel resides in the uncovering of the impulses, addictions, and trauma experienced by the three main women in Stephen's life: his two daughters, Tully and Rachel, and his bride, Heather, all of whom are in their mid-thirties.

What I found most refreshing about this book was that the "secrets" held by each person weren't drawn out until the very end. You weren't dragged along being frustrated that no one has been able to put two and two together, or blindsided when the truth finally gets revealed. Instead, the reader is almost immediately made aware of each person's unhealthy predilections and the cause of such. And even more refreshing is that these characters actually open up to each other so that you see them coming to terms with their issues vs. revealing them.

With such openness, I'm surprised how gripping this novel still felt. The chapters are quite short and always end making you want to know what happened next- is there such a thing as cliffhanging chapters? Either way, I became quite invested in Tully, Rachel, and Heather's stories and found each to be relatable.

With all that said, I was wavering between 3 or 4 stars simply because of the ending. I don't mind ambiguous endings but was left frustrated by this one. I think this was mostly because I couldn't figure out if I'd classify this as being an unreliable narrative situation or not. I was also left a bit wary in how it ended considering the major themes of abuse and unhealthy coping mechanisms.

All in all, a gripping domestic thriller that I very much enjoyed reading.

Massive thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Sally Hepworth for this ARC.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4204815070?book_show_action=false

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review

Family drama of a man plans to remarry a younger wife despite he is still technically married to his first wife who has dementia. His grown children protest the marriage as sees it as a scam.

The younger wife has secrets that she is willing to keep secret but his children will be after her as a gold digger ready to pounce for their mother.

How far are you willing to go for the truth? Will it be worth it in a dysfunction family? An entertaining read.

At first it seems like this is a typical tale of an older man marrying a younger woman, to the dismay of his adult daughters who are the same age as their soon-to-be stepmother. This is anything but. Stephen is an accomplished doctor in his sixties, set to marry Heather, an interior designer in her thirties. She was hired to renovate the home of Stephen and his wife, Pam who slowly fell into the throes of dementia. Tully and Rachel are his adult daughters, also in their thirties - Tully is the older one, married with two young sons and quite anxious about most things while Rachel is single, gorgeous, and throws herself into her baking. Neither initially approves of the new relationship, but they actually come to like Heather soon after meeting her.

The story teases the wedding at the beginning from the point of view of an anonymous guest, and shifts back in time periodically to each of the characters leading up to the wedding. It becomes apparent from the multiple narratives that each of these characters have big secrets. We learn what they are soon enough, but it would spoil it to give any of them away. The bulk of the story soon centers around the true nature of one the characters. Everything seems to point one way, but doubts occasionally crop up, causing a lot of back and forth in each person's mind. As the reader, you'll likely find yourself rolling your eyes at the way some of the people hesitate in believing what they can plainly see happening. And that becomes part of the problem.

While the author throws in some curveballs that are designed to make the reader question everything they just read, that in itself ( to me, anyway) is a letdown. It's because of the seriousness of what is, or may not be, occurring. We're all familiar with gas lighting, and when a story lends credence towards that and victimized people believe they really are crazy, it's almost like condoning that sort of abusive behavior. It's hard to explain without giving any of the plot away. I don't think it takes away from the enjoyment of reading the book, which is a true page-turner, and it is hard for an author to achieve such an ambiguous ending without upsetting some readers. So I do understand that, and I do like the clever twist of perception you'll likely experience. But the true nature of these characters should have been clearly defined so that no one mistakes similar behavior in real life as acceptable.

However you feel about that, I guarantee you won't be able stop reading once you get started. The author has a way with presenting these characters and all of their faults so realistically, that you can picture yourself right there at their table, wrapped up in their daily dramas. I love that and the way the story just flows so effortlessly. I cannot wait to see what the author has in store next!

I absolutely loved Sally Hepworth’s “The Good Sister” so I snagged this one from NetGalley as soon as it was available. It was a quick read with a split narrative featuring two sisters and their father’s soon-to-be wife, who happens to be younger than both of them. Each character has her own secrets and flaws, and as the wedding date approaches, everything comes unraveled.

I enjoyed the premise but I felt like it was underdeveloped. Without spoiling anything, I’ll just say that I’ve worked with domestic violence survivors for a decade, and something about this narrative didn’t sit well with me. Hepworth could have done so much more with the pivotal moment in this story. I actually had to reread that chapter because I felt like I missed something, but I didn’t. Parts of the story reminded me of Colleen Hoover’s Verity. Maybe that’s why I felt like I couldn’t trust any of the characters.

The ending did not disappoint. This book would be an excellent choice for a book club because there’s so much room for speculation and discussion. I didn’t love it quite as much as The Good Sister, but overall it was an enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Sally Hepworth for this ARC.

"The Younger Wife" is a hard book to review because so much of what I want to talk about would involve spoiling surprises for other readers, which I do not want to do. Stephen Aston loves his wife, Pamela, but she has developed severe dementia and has to be in a skilled nursing facility for her own safety. Before the dementia became obvious, Stephen and Pamela had been planning to redo the interior of their home. Pamela had drawn up plans and collected fabric swatches. They hired a young interior designer, Heather Wisher. Because of Pamela's condition, Stephen was taking the lead on the remodel, and he and Heather fell in love. Making an already awkward situation even more awkward, Stephen and Pam have two adult daughters -- Rachel and Natalie (Tully) -- who are older than Heather.

The book starts off with the wedding of Stephen and Heather -- a wedding that is unconventional with the presence of the ex-wife (Pamela), who acts strangely during the ceremony due to her dementia. After the ceremony is over, the bridal party goes with the officiant to sign the registry and something tragic happens, but the guests (and the readers) can only speculate as to what has happened. The story then goes back a year to when Rachel and Tully meet Heather, and when Stephen and Heather announce their engagement. The book alternates between the lives of the daughters and Heather, as well as additional snippets about the wedding. Pamela, Stephen, Heather, Rachel and Tully all have secrets that will be exposed over the intervening year. The secrets will be life-altering for all of them. The most significant secret belongs to Pamela, whose dementia prevents her from explaining it, resulting in Rachel and Tully drawing their own conclusions, which causes them to reconsider everything they thought they knew about their father. Events between Heather and Stephen also cause Heather to wonder if she really knows the man she is planning to marry.

The characters are enjoyable and well developed. The secrets are creative and the author does a good job of portraying how each person's secret has shaped their life, and the ramifications of the secrets being revealed. The story is full of surprises and will leave the reader wondering if the characters suspicions are accurate or not. There are some very funny moments and some very touching moments. The truth behind Pamela's secret is one of the biggest surprises, as it led to a series of events that cannot be undone. "The Younger Wife" is well worth reading.

I received a copy of the e-book via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

I think that we all have “go to” things that we access when we need comfort of some sort. That may be your most wash softened pajamas or a tub of Ben & Jerry’s depending on what unsettling situation is happening. In the case of a reading rut, I would suggest that some “go to” authors be on hand to tap. My definition of a “go to” author is one who reliably engages you from the first paragraph until the last. It is frustrating to find yourself picking up and putting down book after book not able to be engaged in the story. That was my situation when I picked up The Younger Wife. It was the perfect antidote and as usual Sally Hepworth delivered with some good storytelling. Thank you St. Martin’s and Netgalley for allowing me the hatch to escape my reading rut.

The Young Wife, by the incredibly talented Sally Hepworth, should come with a warning. Do not begin to read this book unless you intend to finish it in one sitting. And be sure to allow extra time to understand what you just read. You’ll need it. It’s a 5 star (and more) read. Here’s why:

The Young Wife starts and ends with a wedding. The story lies in between. Dr. Stephen Aston, a heart surgeon, is engaged. Beautiful interior designer Heather Wisher, one year younger that his younger daughter, is his fiancée. His daughters are Natalie (Tully), mother of two and married to a lawyer and Rachel, a baker. There are many more things to learn about these three women because it seems that no one has managed to be totally honest. And the fact that Stephen is still married to Pam, who has dementia, makes the situation unique.

The daughters are understandably worried and upset. Stephen is eager that everyone get along. Heather is not sure how she will fit in. Pam is blissfully ignorant. There are a lot of secrets here. Who is telling lies…and who is telling the truth?

The Young Wife is domestic drama at its best. Look for it on the best seller list, buy it from your local book store or visit your library. Thank you for this, Sally Hepworh.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Sally Hepworth for this ARC.

Everyone is hiding secrets, no one is as perfect as they seem, and several of the main characters are exhibiting dangerous behaviors in order to cope with past childhood traumas. This was more of a dysfunctional family drama to me then a thriller or suspense novel. However, from the very beginning, there is a mysterious accident as well as a mystery narrator. All put together, I easily became engaged in the storyline. I've read six Sally Hepworth novels and have enjoyed them all, including this one.

The book begins with a wedding, a scream and a call for an ambulance. Two sisters, Tully and Rachel, are trying to come to terms with the upcoming marriage of their father to a woman who is almost half his age and closer to theirs. At the same time, they are visiting their mother who has dementia, while they are dealing with their own inner demons and secrets. The soon-to-be "younger wife', Heather, is trying to befriend the sisters, but also questioning her decision to marry their father. Each of the chapters is told by one of the three women. The story moves along quickly and the ending is sure to elicit strong feelings and good discussions.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book. Publication date: April 5,2022.

Sally Hepworth does it again! The Younger Wife is a must read.
From the get-go I was invested in the lives of the characters. Families are complicated and the Aston family is no exception. Craving more details about each character’s life, I was unable to put the book down until I finished the very last page. Even having finished it, I find myself still pondering questions about their individual stories and how things might’ve been different if…….
4.5/5

The biggest Thank You to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC of this novel, I love Hepworth’s books so I hit the button so fast when I saw it was available! This one does not disappoint. Hepworth’s writing is impeccable & she is a master at creating realistic characters with secrets & flaws. I ripped through this book in not much more than two days as it was so much fun to read & I had to know the ending! This is definitely a tie with The-Mother-in-Law as both are amazing, character driven novels where you never really know where you’ll end up. Shocking ending yet written so subtly it’s sublime. Hepworth is simply one of the best author’s writing domestic thrillers/mysteries currently. You must & need to read her books!

This is a book of mystery, in fact several mysteries. It is told through the view point of three young women: two sisters, Tilley and Rachel, and their future step mother Heather, who was their age. Each of them had some trauma in their earlier lives and had tried to find ways to deal with them and keeping them secret. Consequently this brought a lot of baggage into their adult lives.

The story begins at the wedding of 60 year old Stephen, who was the father of Tilley and Rachel, and 30 year old Heather. Immediately after the ceremony the wedding party went to a side room to sign the the marriage document. Something violent occurred there. Ambulance and police were called in, and the guests were told to leave after giving their info to the authorities.

We aren’t told what happened until the end of the story. In the meantime we deal with the mysteries of the thoughts and actions of the three young women as they deal with their personal problems, with Tully’s and Rachel’s mother Pam’s Alzheimer’s, and trying to figure out if Stephen is abusive. All the while in the shadows is this mysterious Fiona.

Like the characters in the story I felt unsure about true outcome of their discoveries. Was what they believed really true or were they being made to question themselves?

I thought this book was intriguing and not something to skim through.

I love Sally Hepworth’s books and this was no exception. Two sisters struggle with a mother with Alzheimer’s and a father who is trying to move on. Both sisters have secrets that surface and they need to work through them as a family. What I love about Hepworth’s stories is that while the characters have secrets, they all talk to each other and it just feels so real. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC- it’s a winner for me!

I really liked this latest book by Sally Hepworth. I am a fan of this author, having read two previous novels and this one lived up to my expectations. I would class it as a family drama - and while I thought it might be more of a thriller, I wasn’t disappointed. The story is told from the point of view of the various characters. The storyline is engaging and there is a mystery element in with the family drama. I read the book in just over a day - I didn’t want to put it down.
Recommended
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

The younger wife was a riveting book about family dynamics. Sally Hepworth does a fabulous job creating unique characters, each with their own personal issues that are revealed during the story. You get to see many different facets of the age old story of an older man falling for a younger woman and how that affects everyone’s lives. Just when you think you have it all figured out, you are left with the question of whether you were correct.. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a bit of intrigue.

A great read! Full of twists and turns. Great ending. Entertaining, thought provoking.
Well written, strong characters.

This book by Sally Hepworth was amazing! When Tully and Rachel meet their dads new much younger fiancé, Heather, they know something is wrong. Not only has their dad just recently moved their mom to a nursing home, but now he wants to divorce her and marry Heather. Through the story, Tully, Rachel, and Heather not only become friends but also try to figure out what’s really going on. You never see the ending coming!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC to read and review. Sally Hepworth has done it again, but this time with a bit of a different kind of twist. There are no spoilers in this review because you have to read this book for yourself. The book held my interest the entire time I was reading, which wasn't long because I could hardly put it down. If there's one line that will stick with me, it's that not everyone is all bad and even the best people have some flaws. I guess that pretty much sums up this book for every character in it. Loved this book and now I'm disappointed to have finished it so quickly. Thriller, fast read, plot twist - check.

The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth Interesting back stories and perceptions of the women in Stephen's life, young wife, ex wives, and daughters. The ending left a big question and I'm totally confused, is he or isn't he?

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy.

This is my 3rd book from Sally Hepworth. I really loved this book and couldn’t put it down.

I have just finished reading The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth, and I keep thinking, “OMG,” this is one wild ride about one messed up family. The story begins at the wedding of a well-known surgeon to his much younger bride when something goes terribly awry. The reader then learns the early details when the surgeon introduces his fiancee to family and friends, but there is one big problem…he’s already married. His wife of 38 years has dementia and resides in a nursing home for care. He has to divorce her to marry the new bride, which makes for some squeamish moments. But, the story gains deeper traction with the release of long-buried secrets, a daughter with kleptomania, a spouse who has squandered the family fortune, and an unreliable accuser of abuse. It is no secret that I am a huge fan of Sally Hepworth, but this novel takes it to another level. I think it may be her best novel yet. The ending is a mind-blower, so do NOT read ahead. I predict this will be a huge hit in April when it is published. This book is a MUST-READ for 2022. #dsyfunctionalfamily #secrets #abuse #questions #accusations #doubts #love #life #anxiety #suspicion