This was a super creepy read that gave me hardcore "Shape of Water" vibes. I know it will find its audience - several of my colleagues have already declared it on their Best Of lists for the year. Not my cuppa.

4.5 stars

Armfield's debut, salt slow, was one of my favorite reads of last year so I was very excited to check out her newest work, particularly once I read the synopsis for it. Which is undoubtedly why I had such high expectations for. Our Wives Under the Sea, a novel that is told beautifully and emotionally, though perhaps missing that final gut punch blow that might take it from really, really great, to absolutely fantastic. With a premise so unique and intriguing that it largely carries the novel through its first half (which is, incidentally, its best), Our Wives Under the Sea opens with an introduction showing both of our main characters already submerged deeply within their own internalized and externalized conflicts.

Miri and Leah have been in a relationship for long enough to have settled into routine; a routine that has been shattered by the recently prolonged underwater research trip Leah has undertaken as a part of her job as a marine researcher. Miri has been left behind, both literally and psychologically, by her partner who either cannot, or will not, share whatever personality-altering experiences she has undergone during her time away. Each of these women bring with them their own distinctive voices and distinctive perspectives on the events that have brought them to this point in their relationship; one of my favorite aspects of this novel was Armfield's deft hand at capturing the everyday ways in which lives can become enmeshed over the course of years of living together, and the gut-wrenching pain that then accompanies the eventual un-entwining when one partner leaves the other.

There is no shortage of interpretations to be delved into within Armfield's story, with Leah's POV in particular teeming with layers of emotional implications. The looming dread that infuses her chapters was incredibly effective, casting a pallor of unease over Miri's more grounded but equally haunting chapters. The only real letdown was in the narrative itself, in my opinion: for as much build-up as there is, the 'climax' of the story did not quite pack as great of a punch as I had expected and hoped for. Regardless, Armfield's writing is impossible to feel unaffected by, weaving emotion into the smallest, simplest of moments and infusing the overall narrative with an unspoken grief that left me with an empty ache in my stomach for days after finishing reading it.

I really loved Our Wives Under the Sea, and to be honest it might be my favorite read of the year so far, faults notwithstanding. It tells a truly unique and beautiful story, and Armfield clearly continues to grow as a talent with each novel she releases. I absolutely cannot wait to see what she does next, as it will undoubtedly be well worth reading and exploring.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for access to an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This was a touching, tender book. I was ultimately left with the impression that it should have undergone another round of edits (the ending is so strong and reinforced my vague feeling up until this point that this author is capable of true greatness, which wasn't quite realized in this novel's earlier pages), but I still enjoyed this a lot and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

"Our Wives Under the Sea" feels as though it is half a book. The concept is interesting, but it's as though it is set up and then nothing ever happens. It's an atmospheric tale of love and loss that borders on horror. However, there's little depth otherwise. I feel this may have worked better as a novella or a short story even.
3.25/5

Thanks so much to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-arc of this book!

[3.5 stars rounded up]

Our Wives Under the Sea gave me A24 horror––it is mostly vibes and little plot. It's a slow unraveling. We follow Miri as she tries to figure out what is wrong with her wife, who has returned after a 6 month disappearance on her submarine expedition. We also follow Leah on said expedition. I liked both POVs and thought both Miri and Leah were great characters––I did enjoy Leah's POV *just* a bit more, because it was more where we got the horror. It felt so claustrophobic and, well, horrifying.

I did want just a bit more from this novel. Like an A24 film, there aren't really any answers. It's more so about how both of the characters respond to what is happening around them. I love a good quiet horror, but I love the main synopsis so much that I couldn't help but want to go further into that.

That said, I think this would be a fun beach read for folks who love horror that focuses on the ocean.

There just wasn't _enough_ of this book. And I don't necessarily mean length wise, because I think the novella form worked well, but there just wasn't enough content. Not enough horror, for sure. Not enough Leah chapters, because Miri's really weren't as interesting.
It had some beautiful lines in it but I think I was expecting something I could really sink my teeth into but instead it felt all surface.

Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for a honest review!

The reason I applied for the arc of this book is because I heard it was sapphic AND had a deep sea diving mystery. I definitely loved this book for those aspects of the book.

The book itself was written very beautiful. It told us exactly what the characters were thinking in a beautiful way and Miri's character felt so realistic to me. This book can be kind of confusing if you have trouble paying attention to details but I loved it nonetheless. My favorite parts were the later chapters that were set in the Submarine. Those felt like the creepiest and most intresting parts for me. Unfortunately that led me to not caring as much for Miri's chapters and wanting to go back to Lea's chapters. I also adored how the ending was described and felt it was very fitting for the rest of the book and for the characters.

I don't really have many gripes except for I wished we had more time in Lea's chapters. Like I said her's were more interesting to me and I kept wanting to read those instead of getting interrupted by Miri's chapters but the book was still great nonetheless.

If you want a sapphic book with beautiful writing and imagery definitely pick this book up.

I went into this book thinking it would be a simple story evaluating two women's marriage through a time of turmoil. What I wasn't expecting was for the absolute grief and horror this book would fill me with (in the best way possible). Julia Armfield is a master at her craft, seamlessly weaving in themes of womanhood and love with those of absolute loss. Not only is this book the only of its kind, it will remain that way.

Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield goes back and forth between the present urban setting where Leah lives with her wife, Miri, and flashbacks of the submarine in which Leah and her crew sink to the bottom of the ocean. It is interesting to learn about some of the creatures that survive at the bottom of the ocean. Leah and the crew may have come into contact with one of these rare creatures.

Leah is a marine biologist who is on a research expedition when the submarine sinks. She and the crew think that it is unusual that their workplace, the Centre, has stocked enough food and supplies for much longer than the trip was supposed to be. They wonder if they are the ones being examined.

When they resurface, Leah is not the same. Miri calls the Centre constantly to find out anything about what is happening. Leah spends most of her time in the bathtub or with all of the taps running. She has to drink salt water to feel a bit better. Miri says that when Leah does get out of the bathrub, she leaves a weird film in the tub. Could she be disintegrating?

Miri realizes that the Centre is no longer contacting her and seem to have disappeared. How will she find any answers to save her wife?

Towards the end of the book, Miri meets Juna, the sister of one of the crew members. She also knows that something weird happened on the expedition. They might not find out what but they confirm that they aren’t imaging things. They both need a friend that knows that the Centre is hiding the truth.

Miri and Juna move Leah to a house by the sea. It seems like the best place to take Leah because she is reaching the end of her life. It doesn’t seem fair that they might not know why. Only Leah’s flashbacks give a glimpse into what it might have been that caused her to disintegrate.

If you are a fan of things like the movies Leviathan or The Abyss, then you may enjoy Our Wives Under The Sea. If you are a sneaky research facility with something to hide or a gigantic yet lonely octopus, then you might not enjoy it as much.

I received this book from NetGalley. This is my honest opinion. Obviously.

Strange and haunting lyrical story of love and loss. The writing is so gorgeous I had to highlight passages I want to remember. Described as a sort of love-horror story, I would have thought this was not for me, but the writing and strangeness of the narrative won me over. Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Not only is this genuinely terrifying and weird, the prose is rock solid. I highlighted so many passages as I was reading, and there's something about grief that this hits extremely well. I'm not sure whether I would've wanted the mystery to stay a mystery, since it seems extremely beside the point what exactly she encountered down there anyway, but i'm very intrigued by the sff worldbuilding hinted at here. God I hate the ocean.

This book captivated me in exactly the same way that so many of Per Petterson’s novels have: there is a beautifully haunting chorus of internal dialogue in this book, and I absolutely adore any book that can take this sometimes mundane and scattered dialogue and turn it into something heartfelt and soul scorching.

This novel is so beautifully written. I ache for both Miri and Leah. It’s a novel very much about what we do for those we love - what we tolerate and accept, but also what we grieve and yearn for, what we miss and what we surrender.

Adore this novel. Very highly recommended!!!

“I want to explain her in a way that would make you love her, but the problem with this is that loving is something we all do alone and through different sets of eyes.”

So says Miri, whose wife has Leah just returned from a prolonged submarine mission and “come back wrong.” Leah bleeds from the pores of her skin, bathes all day, and drinks saltwater — and she doesn’t talk to Miri anymore except in odd non sequiturs.

In alternating chapters we watch as Miri grasps at straws and copes (or doesn’t) with the loss of the wife she knew while Leah describes her time at sea in snapshots of a disaster she hoped to recount to Miri. Only we find she is unable to do so, as once she’s safe on land she may not be safe at all.

Our Wives Under the Sea is a tragic, quiet reflection of grief. The prose is gorgeous and held by attention for what is, in the end, a pretty quick read. Although what happened to Leah may sound exciting, don’t expect it to be fast-paced in the sense of a traditional disaster novel - this story is about relationships ultimately, and how we cling to them and let them go. In some ways it reminded me of Jeff Vandermeer’s Annihilation, and I believe fans of that work will enjoy this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the ARC.

"The deep sea is a haunted house: a place in which things that ought not to exist move about in the darkness."

Holy crap you guys. This book is all the things... and it's immediately, deliciously creepy even though we don't fully understand why.

Miri and Leah are married, and Leah is sent off for what should have been another routine deep sea mission. Until it isn't. Leah and her crew suffer a loss of power and communication as the submarine begins its initial decent. They try not to panic, as they sit stranded somewhere at the bottom of the ocean- how deep did they drop, exactly? how will anyone know where to find them? and what is emanating that strange sound that's suddenly surrounding their vessel?

Meanwhile, Leah's return date has come and gone, and her company calls to inform Miri there's been a delay, and appears to be apologetic as their continued updates begin to become more vague and less frequent. After five months of this, Miri assumes Leah must be dead. But a month later, she receives a call that Leah has been released from quarantine and is ready to be picked up.

However, Leah is not the same. What happened to her down there in the deep darkness all that time? And can Miri adapt to the changes in the face of not knowing? Who is this woman who has returned to her?

Told in alternating timelines - Miri's in the here and now, and Leah's from her time in the submarine - we begin to understand just how deep their love for one another once was, and how the ocean and the secrets that it contains can seep inside.

Part psychologial thriller, part body horror, and hella atmospheric, I am certain Our Wives Under the Sea will remain towards the top of my favorites list this year!

A lyrical exploration of grief and learning to let go, tinged with just a bit of the weird. The main characters' relationship feels well fleshed out, their interactions filled with the tiny human moments that often go unremarked. Beautiful and heartbreaking in the best of ways.

Our Wives Under the Sea is a book difficult to classify. It is a love story, told by two women in alternating chapters. It is a small mystery and it could be called a horror story. In the end, it is the love story between these two women that will stay with readers. Julia Armfield writes beautifully and hauntingly. This is a book that I will recommend to certainly friends--the ones who will want to be challenged and not simply entertained. I will recommend Our Wives Under the Sea to friends who are willing to think about the ending and remember the past.

Thank you to author and publisher for giving me this ARC to read and review. My review is honest and true. Not every reader will want to read Our Wives Under the Sea. Not every reader will want to be challenged to let Miri and Leah's story into her/his life, but those who do, will spend a great deal of time staying with this love story and rereading it.

This is the most intimate horror story I've ever read: a love story, a horror story. I love the "what if they person who comes back isn't exactly the person who left' stories, and this is certainly that. It's dreamlike and immersive. Armfield's prose is, as ever, gorgeous. I window display loved it.

Beautiful and haunting. The premise of this reminded me a bit of Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer which is one of my favorite stories, so I make the comparison favorably—but the prose in this was so gorgeous. Armfield is so great at her craft.

Our Wives Under the Sea is probably my favorite book I’ve read this year. It’s so beautifully written, I was pulled in right from the start. This book had me laughing and crying. I love that the book was told from both Miri and Leah’s perspectives and we could see both sides of their relationship. I honestly hated all of the deep sea talk, but it was also really interesting! (I just hate the ocean) I can’t wait for this book to come out so I can share it with everyone!

A slow burn, filled with heart and dread. I loved every moment of every page and I only wish I could go back to the beginning and read it for the first time all over again.