Absolutely Riveting! A 'can't put down page turner' that will have you hooked from the very first line.

QUICK TAKE: an easy, breezy domestic suspense novel about sisters struggling to connect with their father's much younger fiancee. I thought Sally did a nice job with the main narrative while giving each of the character's their own fully-fleshed out story and drama. The twist at the end wasn't unexpected, but I thought was successfully executed. I had heard an earlier draft of the book's ending was a bit more open-ended than Hepworth intended and readers took issue with it. I did not read that draft of the book and can not speak to that ending, but I have no issue recommending the finished version I was sent.

This was my first time reading a Sally Hepworth novel and I am kicking myself for not having done so sooner!

I always enjoy a multi-pov story. Typically two povs, when done well, are some of my favorite stories to dive into - but Hepworth kicked it up with three. Not going to lie, when I first realized we were going to be diving into three povs, I was concerned. To date, I haven’t seen one done well; but this was phenomenal.

The book kicks right off at a wedding turned bloody- quite literally. I found the twists and turns to be believable. Three women’s lives are turned upside down as they try to muddle through natural ups and downs in life, while something sinister is occurring just beneath the surface. Who is a target, who has been hurt, and the the possible reasons behind it all.

The ending…I loved and hated it all at once.

TW: Miscarriage, Rape, Domestic Abuse, Physical & Mental Abuse, Gaslighting, Substance Abuse.

📌 Pub Date: April 19, 2022

I was given an ARC of this story to read; but thoughts and opinions are all my own. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the chance to read this book!

The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth was one of my most anticipated books of the year. I thoroughly enjoyed Hepworths writing style in all of her books I’ve read but was BLOWN away by her last release, The Good Sister so I was super excited for this one!

While I still loved the writing style in The Younger Wife, it fell quite short for me. I found the storyline very predictable, and did not like the ending much. While I did see that she had changed the epilogue in the finished copy, I’ve discussed with friends who have read the finished copy of the book and I feel leaving the epilogue out altogether would have been the better option!

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve enjoyed the author’s last few books, so I was looking forward to this one. I enjoyed the characters and the depth that was added by their issues they weee facing. The main story was a bit confusing and hard to follow at times. Definitely not my favorite book by Hepworth.

Rachel and Tully are given shattering news by their father. While he still cares for their mother who has declined enough to be placed in a dementia ward, their father Steven has fallen in love and plans to marry Heather-a much younger woman. Rachel and Tully are at first very disinclined to like Heather but they slowly warm up. But when Heather starts to question her experiences with her new fiancee (are they real or alcohol induced imaginings?) and Rachel and Tully hear things from their mother about their dad that cause them to wonder if the marriage wasn't so idyllic after all (is there truth there or is the dementia causing her to misremember?) they start to wonder if they really know Steven at all. What follows is a pretty wild ride that will have you waffling back and forth on what might really be going on with this family. It will also make you wonder about your own relationships and whether that promise of in both sickness and health rings true or not. I honestly had this at a 3 star read but when I read the end it left me flabbergasted enough to raise it to a well deserved four stars. More subtly suspenseful than I am used to but worth the read.

I liked the multiple POV. I must say that while I thought I had a few things figured out, I was also not sure it wasn’t going to go in a totally different direction by the end too. It definitely kept me on my toes throughout. I also enjoyed the relationship between the women in the story.

I had an issue with the way the ending was resolved. I also wish the character with dementia had been written a bit differently. I felt as she were often treated as a child and not treated as any person with a mental illness should be.

I am looking forward to reading other books by Sally Hepworth now.

An interesting page turner about families and secrets.

When a father decides to marry a younger woman, his daughters are concerned about the wife to be. Their mother is still alive and dealing with dementia but does she know more than they realize.

THE HUSBAND
A heart surgeon at the top of his field, Stephen Aston is getting married again. But first he must divorce his current wife, even though she can no longer speak for herself.

THE DAUGHTERS
Tully and Rachel Aston look upon their father’s fiancée, Heather, as nothing but an interloper. Heather is younger than both of them. Clearly, she’s after their father’s money.

THE FORMER WIFE
With their mother in a precarious position, Tully and Rachel are determined to get to the
truth about their family’s secrets, the new wife closing in, and who their father really is.

THE YOUNGER WIFE
Heather has secrets of her own. Will getting to the truth unleash the most dangerous impulses
in all of them?

SUCH A FANTASTIC domestic suspense! I absolutely loved this one , so many , secrets, lies, and twists that kept me turning the pages.

I liked this one but am under the impression that the ARC vs store sold copies are different - so I find it hard to leave an honest review with that knowledge.

I really like Sally Hepworth’s writing. I look forward to every new book she releases because I know it will be a captivating book.

The Younger Wife kept me on the edge of my seat, I finished it in less than 2 days because I had to know how it was going to end. Stephen is still married to his current wife (with dementia), his 2 daughters are older new woman he wants to marry, this is just a set up for disaster! Anyway, the plot was great and I loved the book. It was a solid 4-4.5 stars for me.

***Thank you Netgalley & St Martins Press for an ARC copy in return for an honest review***

This is a multi genre story. Part dysfunctional family drama, part mystery, part thriller and well a hefty dose of creepy darkness. Stephen has invited his daughters out to lunch. He then proceeds to introduce his adult daughters to Heather, a woman younger woman they are and share with their very exciting happy news. They’re getting married! One small hiccup…he is still married to his wife, the mother of his children who is in a care facility suffering from dementia. The author weaves an interesting story. The sisters are not happy and have a gut feeling that Heather doesn’t have the purest of intentions. Then they start to wonder about their father. So many questions, so many people with nefarious intentions. There isn’t a decent person in the story, but that is what makes it so dark and yet compelling. Also at times what makes it somewhat obvious. Still overall a good book to read with the lights on.

I am a fan of Sally Hepworth, she is a pro at writing domestic thrillers that have me glued to my kindle. She has mastered the formula for the domestic thriller genre and she followed it in The Younger Wife. I look forward to reading more from Sally!

I overall enjoyed this one. I think that the ending was a little hit or miss for some people however the overall story was solid. Looking forward to what Sally writes next. Thanks for the opportunity!

I just gave this book to a patron a few days ago to check out and told her she would not be able to put it down. She was back in 3 days and said she stayed up late to finish it. Sally kept you guessing, and I was wrong! Loved this book.

Rachel and Tully's father, Stephen, is getting married again, to a woman younger than them. Heather seems nice enough, but Stephen is still married to their mother, Pam. Granted, Pam has dementia and can't even remember her own children, but still. Stephen is a prominent doctor and wealthy, well liked by everyone. Heather is definitely benefitting from the marriage.
While going through her mother's things, Rachel finds a hot water bottle with thousands of dollars and a note. Where did her mother get so much money? Why did she have it hidden? Pam isn't the only one with secrets. Rachel, Tully, Heather, and Stephen all have their own as well.
Sally Hepworth has always been one of my favorite authors. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love the character development, we learn so much about each person. I wasn't thrilled with the ending, but it wasn't horrible, just a bit anticlimactic. The book does touch on some serious subjects but I didn't feel it did justice to them all.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

The Younger Wife was my first Sally Hepworth read, and I’ll start by saying this, I’ve heard that the ending changed for publication (WHICH IS A GOOD THING) but I’m reviewing the ARC.

Family drama isn’t typically my thing, but I did find myself enjoying reading about Tully, Rachel, and Heather. For some reason I kept getting the names confused 🤷🏼‍♀️ which I’ve actually seen others feel the same way.

I like the idea that sometimes you don’t truly know your family members & that everyone can have their own secrets. I didn’t love that every family member had such a tragic, serious past that created such huge problems for them in the present.

The ARC ending left me so upset. There wasn’t any justice for the women and it just made me so sad. I have heard that the ending was changed and created a far more closed ending that provided a lot more positivity for all characters involved.

I would like to recommend the published version, but do need to warn that there are TONS of TW for literally everything - so please please please DM me if you have any questions or concerns before reading this.

For the copy I read, I’d give 3 ⭐️ for the first 3/4 of the book!

Thank you to @netgalley for the review copy!

Link : https://www.instagram.com/p/CdbCxkgLV9L/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

I’ve always liked Sally Hepworth, she writes domestic thrillers that leave you gasping. This book started out strong but I was so disappointed in the ending. I hear that the latest edition has an added paragraph that changes the ending. I’ll check it out.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

Sally Hepworth excels at writing family-centric domestic thrillers, and this book is no exception. In each of her works, she gives us carefully observed, often female family members and explores the intricacies of their personal lives and relationships with other members of their family. Typically, the narrator or narrator‘s are what one might consider the victim, so you as the reader are rooting for them every step of the way. Although this formula repeats in all three of her books that I’ve read, I’m not mad about it. Each book has been unique but consistent with her strong suits, delivering well developed plot and characters, tension, twists, and a great ending that packs a punch.

In this book, Heather is about to marry an older man named Stephen Aston. Stephen is a successful doctor with two adult daughters, and whose wife now has dementia. There are three rotating perspectives: Heather, and Stephen’s two daughters, Rachel and Tully. At first, Rachel and Tully simply don’t know how to process this quick remarriage. Their dad is still married to their mom, despite the fact that she’s living in a care home and rarely recognizes them. But as they start to warm to Heather, they both begin to confront their own traumas and neuroses. For Rachel, it’s addressing a trauma that happened to her as a teenager that she’s still unhealthily dealing with today. For Tully, it’s attempting to curb a risky anxiety coping mechanism she developed as a child. All the while, Heather is trying to navigate her new life as wealthy Stephen’s wife-to-be, rather than the daughter of an abusive, poor alcoholic that she grew up as.

I loved seeing the journey of each of these characters, although I did like some more than others. I know the ending is a bit controversial among reviewers on Goodreads, but I liked it. I thought it was a powerful manifestation of the consequences of lifelong gaslighting and trauma coming to light. The epilogue however? I have no idea how to deal with that.

Overall, I thought this was a good thriller, but moreover, a better exploration of a family and three complex women. Thank you to the publisher for the ARC via Netgalley!

The Younger Wife reveals that a renowned heart surgeon, Stephen Aston has announced that he will be getting married while still married to his current wife Pam. His adult daughters Tully and Rachel don't know what to make of it when they realize his new wife, Heather, is near their same age.

The other thing shocking to the sisters is that Heather was the interior designer for Pam and Stephen's home and that their father began to court Heather while their mother has been a nursing home suffering from dementia.

The family itself is far from perfect. Tully is a kleptomaniac with a skittish personality, and Rachel a respected baker that eats her feelings. Each of them have their secrets and as the wedding gets closer the sisters and the upcoming bride begin to wonder if maybe Stephen isn't as perfect as he seems.

Incidents happen leading Heather to believe that Stephen has intent to hurt her, much like her own father did to her mother when she was a child. It doesn't help that Pam seems determined to point out to everyone that Stephen is a monster. While the sisters struggle to contemplate whether their father is violent towards his wives or if the wives are just clumsy, the injuries continue leaving it harder to blur the line between what is reality and what is made up.

It doesn't help when Rachel meets up with her father's first wife and she confesses something to Rachel. Fiona, the first wife, claims that Stephen hurt her. Such a revelation makes Rachel wonder if maybe her mother had been trying to get away from her father. Especially after she is going through her mother's things and finds a hot water bottle with almost a hundred thousand dollars stuffed inside. Even more confusing is the shred of paper with her sister and Fiona's name written on it.

As the story progresses and the wedding gets ever closer the sisters deal with their own insecurities from Tully confronting her kleptomania and the loss of her home, to Rachel facing that her past has kept her from being able to truly heal and move on. Yet the past also leaves the two sisters and the younger wife to question the well being and intent of Stephen.

So on the wedding day when it all comes to a head, the end result is the death of one of them. Without giving away any spoilers the author brings the reader to three years earlier with a scene of Pam and her true reason for all the money in the hot water bottle and why Tully and Fiona's name were written on the scrap of paper. Another scene is the future in which Fiona writes to Rachel once more with a shocking revelation leaving everyone to question was it all real or just in their minds?

The Younger Wife to me was a pleasant surprise especially with the shocker of an ending that I did not see coming at all. I loved the delightful spin that literally pulled the rug out from under the readers feet and all they thought they knew. If you are a fan of family dramas and secrets that lead people to make unexpected choices then I would most certainly recommend the Younger Wife. Until next time, Happy Reading!