I am torn on my thoughts on this domestic suspense as I really enjoyed some parts of the story and then other aspects just didn’t work for me (Tully’s storyline was definitely one I could have done without). I also really disliked the epilogue but I have since heard that the ending changed by the time the book was published.

Regardless, knowing this was how it was supposed to end really bothers me in terms of how this impacts the rest of the book.

Definitely a case of liked and didn’t love.

Enjoyed this novel. The separate story lines about the two daughters is just as interesting as the main story of the older main falling for the younger interior designer who has secrets of her own. This story had many twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat at until the very end. I’m a fan of this author and this book is a must read.

There was no suspense build up or big revelation with this novel. The ending / epilogue did nothing to wrap up the story. I did enjoy the audiobook cast of characters narration, but the story was unfulfilling.

This was a good read for me. I am a high school librarian, so I will not be purchasing this for my library since it does not fit the demographics of my patrons, However, I will recommend this to my adult friends.

I didn’t love this. I didn’t feel there was much suspense, and I wasn’t that invested in the story line.

Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martins Press and Sally Hepworth for this ARC. This has been my favorite book so far this year. I read it in less then 2 days and just loved everything about it..Rachel, Tully, Pam and Heather all had their own interesting stories, and none to long or confusing..I still don’t know if Stephen was what they all believed him to be or not…No spoilers here ! I am definitely suggesting this as one of our bookclub picks. I feel there will be some good discussions about this one .. 5 stars

sadly, I did not like this and should have dnf'd but I managed to push through. I read 60% of my netgalley arc but saw that the published edition has a different ending... so I switched to that version for the rest of the book [and read the ending of the arc version to compare. I actually prefer the arc ending lmao]

I wasn't a fan of the format where the prologue was in the present but the rest of the book is the year before leading to the present. I also didn't understand how Tulley's storyline correlated to the overall plot. I felt like if she was taken out completely, it wouldn't have affected the story. Ultimately, by the story I had no positive feelings, if anything I was mad that I finished it.

| trigger warnings - dementia, rape, anxiety, childhood trauma, domestic violence, miscarriage, death of a parent |

3.5 stars

This wasn't really a thriller. It's more of a family drama with a bit of a mystery. I did really enjoy the book, though. It does deal with some pretty heavy topics so check trigger warnings. I am a bit disappointed that it seemed to brig up these big issues and then gloss over them. I wish it went into more about healing from some of these heavy topics.

The ending felt a bit rushed and lackluster. I wanted more from the ending.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC.

I have loved every book Sally has written and this one probably tops my list. It was well written and carried the story very well by keeping the reader well inclined and anticipating the more.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was such a wild ride. I could not put this book down. It definitely kept me guessing from start to finish. I loved all of the POV characters and found them all to be great narrators. I think that all of the big reveals were also done really well.

I enjoyed this book so much that I actually went back and borrowed all of the author's other published books from the library and I am now listening to them all on audiobook.

Sally Hepworth has now been added to my favorites list and I will read any book that she publishes.

4.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you Sally Hepworth, St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the copy of The Younger Wife. It’s a fine standalone slow burn domestic thriller with a hint of murder mystery. The “Big Little Lies” comparisons are bound to be there due to similar themes.

At the heart of this tale are the Aston’s family- a dysfunctional one with each character more broken than the other. Stephen Aston, the head patriarch of the family has decided to get married to a girl , Heather, young enough to be his daughter. Eldest daughter Tully is a kleptomaniac while younger daughter, Rachel, stress eats to cope up with memories of being raped as a teenager. Things turn weird when Rachel lands upon seemingly an inheritance from her mother with Tully and a mysterious name on a note. Heather, too has an equally dark family history. How the ladies in the narrative find a common ground , fight their inner demons and whether they succeed is in a nutshell the basic premise of the book.

The book addresses some very relevant themes of an abusive relationship, mental health and through the viewpoint of the 3 formidable protagonists, etches out these themes pretty well. Where it falters for me is the freshness aspect as neither the hint of mystery or non linear theme introduce anything you wouldn’t have read before. Will go for a 3.5 -4 stars.

#BookReview #NetGalley #StMartin’sPress #Sally Hepworth #TheYoungerWife

I ended up DNFing this book. I don't think it's anything wrong with the storyline I have just figured out that I don't vibe with this author's writing style for some reason. I have tried to read a few of her books now and I end up DNFing them as I just can't seem to get into the story.

This is probably my least favorite Sally Hepworth read, but I still liked it. There were times when it felt really slow, and I wasn't a fan of all the gaslighting. I also didn't really like Tully as a character. The ending was way too ambiguous, but I've read this was fixed in the final version.

I think every author can have that one-off book that didn't work and feel like they didn't write it, and this is Sally Hepworth's. However, she is still a rock star to me and an author with staying power!!

I had an ARC for The Younger Wife on my shelf for quite some time and decided to wait till it was published to listen to the finished copy with the changes to the ending. Then I lost interest in reading another book about the younger wife and older Dad with daughters, but after reading and loving The Soulmates I decided to give it a try. However, it's not just that familiar trope; Sally Hepworth gives us something a little different from the character. Heather, the younger wife, is not that typical unlikable, golddigger, trophy-annoying character. She is likable and someone I was rooting for. There is a rags-to-riches trope; however, the younger wife arc is not the driving force here. It's all about Stephen, the "older husband," who has some secrets he has been manipulating, and now his daughters Tully, Rachel, and Heather just might be catching on to them, creating some suspense as to who to trust with a little mystery to the story.

The story is told through Heather, Tully, and Rachel, each with different performers narrating their stories. I always love listening to the different voices of the characters, and that creates a better connection to the characters for me.

Tully and Rachel have compelling stories with their own conflicts to overcome, and I loved the themes explored in both, each being a little different from the same old. However, instead of putting me in their shoes, their storylines could have done better at creating the layers needed to understand what motivated those conflicts. It felt soapy and unrealistic, taking away that believability element that it could be happening to the characters required to care about the characters.

The ending was a big deal for some reason I missed, and Sally Hepworth changed it from the early copies. I went back and read the ARC's end, and I liked how things wrapped up better in the finished copy. There were still a few things I wanted clearer, and after thinking about it, I was satisfied but was hoping for a more rewarding payoff.

Overall I enjoyed listening to the story and wanted to continue until I was done.

I received a copy from the publisher through NG and listened to the finished copy.

This book was sent to me on Kindle by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher and author. This book is resplendent with mystery and intrigue. A cannot put down novel, written by a talented and gifted author.
Remarriage and divorce, along with murder and secrets, move this book quickly. The dynamics of the sisters and the parents are thought provoking. The family dynamics are intriguing. Be prepared for the surprise ending. Enjoy.

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book. My reviews can be read on my GoodReads account here: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1335387-kelly

A wedding of an older man and younger woman attended by his grown daughters, their families and his ex-wife suffering from dementia. Someone is hurt but who …and why? And by whom? Told from different perspectives and jumping back and forth from the wedding day to the past, this story kept me interested. However, the resolution did not work for me at all. Still, I will be seeking out more of Hepworth’s work.

I wanted to love it, but I didn’t. I thought most of the story was very well done and enjoyed getting to know each character and their story. The ending was predictable early on and I guess I was expecting a bigger twist to hit at the end.

Thank you so much @StMartinsPress & @NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 05 April 2022)

SYNOPSIS | Tully and Rachel are bridesmaids at their fathers wedding and they are not enthusiastic that he is marrying Heather who is young enough to be their sister. On top of this, their mother who has dementia is also in attendance which they feel is in poor taste.

WHAT I LIKED:
- dysfunctional chaotic family vibes
- the little teasers of what really happened scattered throughout
- a whole book of unreliable narrators & an open to interpretation ending

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- the ending (although I've heard there was an additional paragraph included in the final version)
- the gaslighting is out in full force here
- the characters felt cliché (for example Tully & Rachel were both repeatedly referenced by their one dimensional traits)
- the majority of this book can be boiled down to whether you as the reader believe the women in this story or not

A psychological thriller with main characters who actually talk about their issues, hallelujah! I cannot say how many times I’m frustrated when so many issues could be cleared up if the the characters just shared what was going on. I find it more relatable to everyday life. I saw a lot of complaints about the ending, but to me it’s just showing the progression of how these women were able to do more each generation to break a cycle. Sign me up for Sally Hepworth’s next novel! Thank you to netgalley for an ARC ebook in return for a non biased review.