Wow! This one really surprised me: I did not expect even half of what happened. Fantastic writing! I feel like I was also “gas-lit” into believing whatever Sally Hepworth said happened. A seemingly perfect family holds secrets, which only surface after the sudden appearance of a much younger wife/“step-mother”. She and a large amount of unexplained cash (in a hot water bottle no less!) become catalysts for the tension and chaos that ensue. Great book!

This is my 1st Sally Hepworth book and it won’t be my last. I’m a fan of short chapters and this one had just that. Each chapter was about one characters point of view, which I also really enjoyed. This book kept me wanting to know more with each turn of the page.

Enjoyed the character development of each of the three women (Heather, Tully, and Rachel). In the Authors note I was intrigued to hear about how the story came to fruition and really makes you question that sometimes things might not be how they seem.

I do feel that it overall left me wondering a few things, that I’d love to discuss with whoever has read it! Definitely recommend this read in 2022!

Sally Hepworth is a master at the unexpected, This was the third book that I’ve read by this author and though I’ve loved each, she still crafted a story that is unpredictable and twisty. The story is about a family struggling with the current state of their lives. The mother, Pam, is suffering from rapidly progressing dementia. Both sisters, Tully and Rachel, have their own significant mental issues and now their doting father, Stephen is divorcing Pam to marry the interior designer hired to remodel their home. Oh, and the fiancé, Heather, is younger than both daughters. Wow! Events are progressing toward the wedding but suspicion is raised about Stephen’s true nature. Pam has made seriously harsh statements about how he treated her, mysterious money was found and Heather has a couple incidents the cause of which she is not entirely clear. What is happening within this family? Do they know each other at all? Why don’t they tell each other about anything of substance? Will they find a new road together or completely diverge? You will be guessing throughout. Loved this book!

This book was interesting. I found myself wondering how it would turn out. The family dynamic was something else. When I finished the book, I want to read it again, to see what I might have missed. My take away from this book is that when you are dealing with something don't keep it a secret. Tell someone and you will find some people to help you. I do have to say there are several heavy topics in this book. The major tiggers include abuse, rape and miscarriage.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book started with an explosive beginning, slowed down in the middle and then rushed to an ending that was surprisingly ambiguous. None of the characters was particularly likable nor were the narrators reliable since they were dealing with mental issues. The novel, however, was well-written with a slower pace than what I’m accustomed to, but it also dealt with some serious topics that could be triggers for readers. The topics included rape, eating disorders and domestic violence. There were three narrators: Heather, the new bride of Stephen Ashton; Rachel, the younger daughter of Stephen who resents that Heather is her age; and Tully, the older daughter of Stephen who has severe financial issues in her life. Although the beginning got my attention right away, I found some of the plot to be slow and plodding. The book is character driven, a study of domestic drama combined with a mystery/whodunit. I enjoyed the mystery part and some of the domestic drama, but at some points, I was asking myself what other issue the characters would have to deal with. Once I invested myself in the lives of the characters, I was absorbed in their story and wanted to find out what actually happened at the wedding that was at the beginning of the story. The ending was disappointing to me since I thought it would truly conclude the book, but it was more open-ended, leaving the reader to ponder what the conclusion would be. The topics themselves were well worth reading about, especially in such an entertaining soap opera kind of tale and the characters, although flawed, were well-developed and evoked sympathy throughout my reading.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

I really enjoyed this book, but it wasn’t my favorite of hepworth’s books. It had interesting character development and let me guessing, but I found the ending disappointing. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for review.

What a wild ride! Sally Hepworth is so skilled at guiding to believe one thing and it turning out to be something entirely different! Hard to not give away any thing .. so I'll just include the description below:

Stephen Aston is getting married again. The only problem is, he's still married to his first wife, even though she is in a care facility for dementia. But he'll take care of that easily, by divorcing her--even if his adult daughters protest.

Tully and Rachel Aston look upon Heather as nothing but an interloper. Heather is the same age as Rachel and even younger than Tully. Clearly she's a golddigger and after their father's money. Heather has secrets that she's keeping close, and reasons of her own for wanting to marry Stephen.

With their mother unable to speak for herself, 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. But will getting to the truth unleash the most dangerous impulses...in all of them?

I enjoyed the story. The characters were well developed as was the plot. I loved the twists and turns and didn’t want to put the book down.

Not a favourite. I barely got through 20% of this before I gave up on it. I skimmed through the remaining 80% to get the jist of the book.

This book is complicated. On the one side, it's a super fast read. The three women in the story are interesting and layered and three-dimensional. They make the book a fast-read and they have distinct voices and they are well-done.

The men, however, are too perfect. There's nothing wrong with them. They are not complex or interesting.

And there are some major issues in this book that are glossed over. Some are dealt with in some detail (the one Tully has) and some are absolutely not given enough room (Rachel's) and space to be dealt with the respect they deserve. It makes them feel like token issues.

And then there's the ending. I don't mind a twist. I don't mind unexpected or even unclear endings. I do mind endings that (maybe) unintentionally play into stereotypes that are really not helpful. Let's not do that.

so fast read, complex/interesting women. but then so much not great, too. Love Hepworth and will keep reading her. Just didn't love this one.

with gratitude to St. Martin's Press and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Sally Hepworth rarely disappoints, and she certainly does not do so in her latest novel, The Younger Wife.

From the investment made into each main character & narrator (Rachel, Tully, Heather, and Fiona), to the twists of plot and developing connections between seemingly opposites; this book is a real gem!!

I absolutely love the contrast in characters and the fact that even I, as only the reader, started to question what I KNEW vs. what was SAID….

Quick pace, with easy to relate to characters make this one a great little mystery! Well done, yet again!

I thought the plot was decent and overall liked the story. I think Sally Hepworth does a great job with character development but in this case I would have liked a bit more depth and conclusions to their problems. The ending was just okay.

Thank you so much to the author, Sally Hepworth, the publishing company, NetGalley, and NetGalley for an Early read for my honest review. I absolutely love getting early reads for authors that are my favorite!

I've read many books by Sally Hepworth, and this psychological thriller truly does not disappoint. The father is hiding a lot of narcissistic behaviors, that by the end of the book there can be some severe hatred for that father.

I loved how at the beginning of the book there were some major issues between the sisters, and by the end the issues were all out in the open and the potential for true sibling love came through the pages.

If you need a book at the top of your TBR stack, grab this one. You will want more from this author, and I can't wait for the next one. Thank you again for the read!! 5 stars for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. If you like family drama this one is for you. The writing and the story was good, but I was not looking for a family drama right now. Readers of Hepworth will enjoy this one.

Was looking to be a 4 or 5 star novel, but then the ending happened.

It's not a new subject - older father is engaged to a younger woman who is the around the same age as his daughter, but Sally Hepworth was able to make things interesting and have you question if their intensions are really true.

I was loving the novel, but then the ending happened. Not a big fan of inconclusions.

Thank you to Netgallery and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The story is told from a few different point of views. Some I enjoyed, some irritated me. Many twisty turns that kept me captivated. I enjoyed the journey, but the end left me with questions that I wish were answered. It felt like I missed something in the book that I was supposed to know.

I've enjoyed the Sally Hepworth books I've read in the past, so was so excited to read her new one early! The Younger Wife was a fast paced, unpredictable story that I read in a day because I couldn't put it down! I loved the different points of view throughout the story, although I wish we got more Rachel and less Tully (by far my least favorite character!). It's a bit of a slow burn with secrets scattered throughout, giving us more background on everything that's going on, but I still sped through it. I would have rated this higher if not for the last ~10%, which was definitely unexpected but left me a little disappointed. It looks like readers are pretty split on it, so I'm glad I'm not in the minority! Overall, I would highly recommend and can't wait to read whatever Sally Hepworth comes out with next. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this great book!

I was so excited to read this book because I LOVED The Good Sister, the first book I read by Sally Hepworth, but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations though I still enjoyed reading it.

I probably would have rated it higher if not for the ending.

I loved the different relationships between characters and the dynamics in this family. There was space for each character to breathe and grow, particularly the sister relationship between Tully and Rachel. But I liked Heather’s chapters too, and how she got fleshed out, though I felt a bit more disconnect from her.

The mystery was good too—it flips between our three narrators in the present and an unknown narrator in the future (I really enjoyed that reveal). My problem was with the ending. I had a good idea of where it was going, and then the last two chapters, everything is suddenly in doubt—or is it? I’m still not sure what I’m supposed to get from that last chapter because the most apparent conclusion and what it says about women is not one I like.

So I’m not really sure what to think of this one. I enjoyed most of it, and I like her writing style, but the ending left me with a bad taste in my mouth.

I enjoy books by Sally Hepworth very much, but this one just missed the mark for me. While certain scenarios were dragged out to near boredom, others were rushed and left me without answers. The ending was just as rushed and unsatisfying

Sally Hepworth is one of my favorite authors and I thoroughly enjoyed The Younger Wife. Her characters are great, they are fleshed out, relatable, and beautifully flawed. She can tell a great story! This was a one sitting read for me, it pulled me and never let go! Five stars all dang day long! Thank you for the opportunity to read and review another great book NetGalley!