This was really good. Hepworth has hit her stride on thrillers set in Australia. She sets this one post COVID which I thought was interesting and loved some of the details she sprinkles throughout it to show how things have changed. I do want to say though that I am still flummoxed at the ending. Hepworth messes with you enough in this one to have you wondering what is real? I think I know what is real, but then you get to mini denouements and you are left messed up. Was Stephen Aston a bad man or was he a good man? 

"The Younger Wife" follows three women (really 5) in Stephen Aston's life. Stephen is about to be remarried (to a younger wife) named Heather. The beginning starts with their wedding and after the ceremony, something happens. We don't know what, but the unnamed narrator (for a time) wonders who did something and could it be that Stephen or his young bride is hurt. Then we hurtle back almost a year to follow Stephen as he introduces his two daughters (Tully and Rachel) to Heather. We quickly find out that the girls' mother and Stephen's wife, Pam has Alzheimer's and both girls in different ways are dismayed at their father moving on from their mother to a new life with Heather. The book follows Tully, Rachel, and Heather as each woman has their own demons to contend with along with wondering about Stephen and is the image that he has long portrayed the real one or is he really another man underneath.


I loved all of the characters. Tully is a mess, but I understood her a lot. Her anxiety and how it manifested made her very real. I wonder if COVID made this character a bit worse or not. Hepworth brings up COVID and I am trying to recall if Tully said anything beyond how now no one likes to touch hands and everyone waves. Tully loves her husband, her two sons, and does not have sibling rivalry going on with Rachel which was great to see. If anything we get to see those two characters grow closer throughout the book and really gain an understanding of each other.

I could have read a whole book about Rachel and then Darcy. Sigh. Her storyline was a hard/tough one and I do wonder about the pivotal event in her life if her father guessed or not. It's one of the lingering questions I had.

Heather and her backstory was also tough to read. But you are left wondering what is real and not real with her and her interactions with Stephen. Which was very well done of Hepworth. I am still confused!

The book's dialogue and flow works great. In between chapters of the three women we get the unnamed narrator for a bit here and there until they suddenly are known to readers and to the women in the story.

The ending was a one big what is real and did this happen or not. And then you get a clue somewhat, but it is still left open for interpretation. I don't know guys. This was a great mystery and I loved how it made me think.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review an advanced reader's copy of this book.

The Younger Wife was a satisfying, fast-paced romp of a read. Sally Hepworth has become a reliable favourite for books that I can't put down! She has a way of writing dark subjects lightly, and her characters are always richly developed, full of flaws and quirks— which I love. I find with her writing, I never quite know how things will turn out in the end, and The Younger Wife was no exception.

The book is told from the perspectives of Tully and Rachel, two adult sisters, as well as from the perspective of their father's new fiancé, Heather. Tully and Rachel's mother has dementia and is in a nursing home, so understandably, their father, Stephen, wants to move forward with life and has found love with Heather, who is notably younger than him, which doesn't sit well with the sisters. I found the characters well-fleshed out, especially Tully and Rachel, but I'd have loved to know more about Heather to more deeply understand her.

I appreciate how Hepworth always has you reflecting on your own character judgments and reconsidering what you once believed. If you've enjoyed any of Hepworth's previous books, like The Good Sister or The Mother-in-Law, you'll be delighted with this one as well.

What an awesome suspense! The story is told from the POV of various characters, and actually circled around more than one mystery. Love how I was drawn in from the first chapter. This is a quick read, but had me turning the pages until I reached the end. Loved it.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first book to read by this author but I cannot wait to read more! The characters stay with you long after you finish the book. Such a great story and fast read. Highly recommend!!!

3.5 Stars
I received a digital copy from NetGalley for an honest review.
I found the story engaging with short, fast chapters from multiple POV’s. I sometimes find one narrative more enjoyable than the other(s) but I found them all compelling in this book.
I loved the first 70% off this book, couldn’t put it down but it lost a bit of steam near the end. Although, I didn’t love the ending, I felt the rest of the story was extremely readable and interesting.

The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth was quick, easy read. I really like the author’s writing style. The characters are well-developed, if a little naïve. The book is written in multiple viewpoints which helps the reader understand motivations and actions. This book does tackle some heavy topics that may not have been handled in a way that will make everyone comfortable. All in all, a good read that is engaging from start to finish.

***** I received an ARC from NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my honest review. *****

I am a huge Sally Hepworth fan, so I was really looking forward to reading The Younger Wife. As with all her other books, this one drew me in from the opening pages. There are several mysteries going on in this book…including who was killed and who was the killer at a wedding depicted in the first chapter…and whether or not the husband/father at the center of the plot is an abuser. But it is primarily a very well-done family drama I am definitely recommending this one to friends and colleagues.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Wow. I love Sally Hepworth’s books. I love them so much that I typically devour them in one sitting, and this one was no exception.

She has an ability to write a family drama that keeps me interested, without making me too anxious for the well-being of the characters. I loved the characters in this one - especially the female characters (although Darcy made me smile) - even Heather, the younger wife.

The ending made me uncomfortable, and I didn’t love it (but that’s probably the point) but it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment.

Holy wow did I love this book! Am now a #sallyfanforlife 😍 The suspense kept me holding my breath as I read the book. This is definitely a book I could not put down.

Sally Hepworth has quickly become one of my favorite authors!

Anyone would be shocked to find out their father is getting remarried to a much younger woman - especially when he's still married to their mother....

I loved the multiple perspectives of daughters' Tully and Rachel as well as the new wife to be Heather. Sally Hepworth always writes a great family suspense! All three women's characters are well developed and very relatable.

Where do I even begin? I have been a HUGE Sally Hepworth fan for SO long and this was one of my all time faves. This book is a twisted tale with many Thrills and Pyscological twists!

Steve is getting married and what should be the happiest of times for him is far from happy. Not only is Steve getting married, he already IS married!

Steve comes up with a plan to divorce his first wife who is in a facility for dementia. How far will this plan go and will this marriage even happen?

I loved this book so much! BRAVO Sally!

The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth caught my interest from the beginning and kept me guessing until the end. Imagine your father marries a woman younger than you - would you trust she's marrying him for the right reasons? Or then, when family secrets and mysteries come to light, do you stop trusting your own judgment? This was a fast-paced, expertly executed family drama. Highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review an advanced reader's copy of this book.

5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟Very good! Will definitely be recommending this book on my Instagram bookstagram account.

I loved Sally Hepworth’s book The Good Sister. I rated that one 5/5. Unfortunately this one fell flat for me, rounding up my 2.5 to a 3/5 because I do feel like Sally Hepworth is a good writer…I just feel there were so many missed opportunities or greatness in this book.

There was a lot of potential and all sorts of things that just weren’t capitalized upon.

For instance, Rachel’s dark secret. She held it close to her without telling a soul for YEARS. However she eventually tells those who become closest to her and that’s it. Nothing really happens with this big secret. For this particular secret…it’s a big deal and prob could’ve been either more focused on in the story or just cut entirely because it literally has no importance when it comes to the plot.

Was Stephen a bad husband/parented? Was there abuse!l? Were the characters delusional? Who knows!?

Fiona Arthur…her character really didn’t end up being that important for the trajectory of the story. Another missed opportunity.

Does Heather (the younger wife) have a dark secret for why she is with an older man? Is she a gold digger!? Nope, nothing much there either. She has a secret but again, it’s not anything major.

Tully has some serious issues with kleptomania that sorta starts developing into something good for the story…when Tully and Heather bond a bit during a therapeutic scene returning items that were stolen. This helped with forging a bond between the daughter and soon to be step mother.

I didn’t hate the book but was unsatisfied. I’d absolutely read another book by Sally Hepworth again…but this one was a “miss” for me.

How would you feel if your Dad tells you he’s engaged, to a woman younger than you are, oh an by the way, he is divorcing you mother with dementia? I know how’d I feel and happy would not be the word, but maybe that’s just me, maybe not. I’d definitely be suspicious of this new woman in Dad’s life.

Tully and Rachel are facing just this situation with their father. This is a family just as disfunctional as most families. They have secrets, they have their own personal issues that they refuse to admit to, and they also want to dig into this woman’s reason for marrying Dad. Is she a gold-digger? You’ll have to read the book to uncover all the delightful twists and turns this story takes.

I did enjoy this book but it was a bit of a slower read for me. I would definitely recommend you give it a read.

Thank you to #netgalley, #stsimonpublishing and #sallyhepworth for allowing me the opportunity to read this book!

So…. I’m still thinking about this one. I absolutely love Sally Hepworth’s writing. This one is told from 3 women’s perspectives—2 sisters & the new wife’s. I really enjoyed their varying points of view. I definitely wouldn’t call this a thriller, but it was an excellent family drama. I wasn’t *quite* on board with the ending, some of the characters actions didn’t really ring true, but I *did* enjoy the ambiguity. All in all, another winner for Sally!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📚TBR ADD 📚

❗️Release day❗️
April 5th 2022

Here’s another @netgalley approval read I’m diving into this month!

Make sure to add to your TBR list and be on the lookout for it!

What are you currently reading??

Sally Hepworth, the newest breakout star of domestic suspense delivers her next twisty novel about family secrets and lies.

✳️The Younger Wife✳️

✨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?✨

My Thoughts 💭
This book sucked me in from the first chapter! I loved the story line and the mystery of the wedding and “who did it?”type thing and I also loved the side characters especially Darcy!
Overall a book I’d recommend for a mystery read!

#bookstagram #bookstagrammer #booksofinstagram #booktok #booklover #booknerd #bookaddict #bookaddiction #bookshelf #bookcommunity #bookclub #bookaesthetic #bookstagramfollowtrain #kindle #sallyhempworth #tbr #tbrpile


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Sally has done it again! WOW! I love her functional dysfunctional families. I'm a Sally Hepworth fan for life.

I love the sisters perspective. So many twists and turns.

I raced through this book, it was a well-plotted family mystery that tackled some tricky topics very adeptly. It definitely will appeal to fans of the author's previous suspense novels, as well as fans of Liane Moriarty.

This book follows three young women, all around the same age. The difference? Two of them are sisters, one is their father's newest love. What's the issue? Well, their father is still married to their mom and she's in a care facility for dementia.

With their father's new girlfriend, comes some new information. Their mom can't speak clearly anymore but the new girl can. Family secrets are dangerous and eventually will surface... will it be too late?

I loved this book so much. I enjoyed the different point of views throughout the story and I loved each of the characters and their quirks. I would've given this 5 stars if the ending was more shocking...but I did see it coming. It was a fairly quick read!

Triggers:
Domestic voilence
Covid 19

I didn't want to put the book down. Definitely will be reading another of Sally Hepworth's books in the future!