This was a fascinating memoir written by the wife of a military man. It was deeply personal and I appreciated her POV and honesty. It was interesting to see how her perspective changed over the years. So much of what she went through was my worst nightmare. I cannot imagine the anxiety and also the rage of having to go through all that basically alone.

This book was ok. I don’t share her life experiences as a military wife and while it was a good listen it took me quite some time to get through. I do appreciate the sacrifices and how hard this life must be for those experiencing it.

Simone and her husband, Andrew, moved to Columbus, Georgia. Her husband has just decided to join the military. This is right after the attacks of 9/11, and all troops will be deployed to Afghanistan
Simone meets a collection of women who, too, have deployed husbands in the military
Together, these women raise children together and do community work within the base, especially for wives who have hurt husbands or their husbands that have not made it back from the war
These women form a bond, a friendship, and learn how to become one family supporting each other until their husbands come home

"The Wives" by Simone Gorrindo is a compelling and thought-provoking novel that explores the complexities of marriage, identity, and the impact of secrets on relationships. The story follows the intertwined lives of three women connected through their shared experiences as wives and mothers. Gorrindo's writing is poignant and insightful, delving into the emotional landscapes of her characters with depth and sensitivity. The novel's exploration of love, loss, and resilience makes it a powerful and engaging read that will resonate with readers long after they finish the last page.

I enjoyed this story. A story of a NYC woman who moves to Georgia to be with her new military husband. A new setting, new friends, new lifestyle, very interesting to read. I loved watching the series, Army Wives, and this was very similar.

I really enjoyed this one. Loved the story and the characters. Took me a bit to get through, but overall a good read.

This was a barn burner of a memoir. An inside look at what life is like for the families left at home while the men and women in the U.S. armed forces deploy, this blunt account of the authors’ experiences left me stunned by the level of sacrifice and grateful for her and the other wives living this out day to day. One of the most interesting parts of this memoir is that when the author met and dated her future husband, he was not in the military. So she did not go into their marriage with an understanding of what their life would be. She does a great job of laying out, scene by scene, how she coped with the changes her husband’s choices brought them, and what it cost her. I was surprised by her resilience and dedication, and inspired by her strength. I’m really glad I read this book. Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for providing me with a review copy.

A wonderfully written memoir that really gets you thinking about we truly need to form community in order to live our best lives. Simone leaves her New York City job when her new husband, a military career person, is transferred to a small town. Simone feels isolated and ill at ease, until she begins to form friendships with her fellow wives, a diverse group of people she may never have encountered had she stayed in New York. Her life is expanded, as is her outlook.

"The Wives" caught my attention because, as a military mom, I recognize that it's not just the soldiers who are affected by the life they choose, but their families as well. So, I was interested to see what Simone Gorrindo had to share about her experience as a military spouse.

Everything she wrote resonated with me. It is amazing how a military connection suddenly puts us in the company of people we might not have ever met or chosen to know otherwise, and how they suddenly become the few who really understand us.

I found "The Wives" to be at times compelling, and at others heartbreaking. While some may view military service as "just a job," it is so much more than that, and I think Simone's story sheds light on the sacrifices that are made that no other job would be legally required to ask of you.

If you're looking for realistic insight into what it means to be a military spouse, you'll want to read this book.

Thank you to Simone Gorrindo, Gallery Books, and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

The Wives
Simone Gorrindo

Memoir ~ Army wives ~ Marriage ~ Columbus, Georgia ~ Friendship ~ Strong women ~ Deployments ~ Secrets ~ Babies ~ Love ~ Military life ~ War ~ Coming of Age ~ Mental health issues

I recommend this book. I enjoyed it. Thank you to NetGalley & Gallery/Scout for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this story. It was very moving and beautifully written. I liked the bond the wives form with each other and the friendships that grow with each other. I highly recommend this book.

[4.5 stars]

This debut memoir about what it's like to be the wife of someone in the Army, in this case Special Operations, is a high quality memoir with depth and nuance...and it took me by surprise. Simone reluctantly moves with her new husband from New York City to Columbus, GA when he joins an elite Army unit. In GA, Simone struggles with life alone while her husband is deployed, but meeting a group of “Army wives” changes things for her. Simone goes through a tumultuous emotional journey with her feelings about the military and her husband becoming a "trained killer." She shares the brutality of not just the physical distance the military creates between married spouses, but also the emotional distance, and the personality changes someone in the military goes through. But, The Wives is ultimately a celebration of the bond and support network she’s a part of with the other wives who are in her same boat. Simone's writing is gorgeous and I was totally immersed in her story (despite having no particular interest in or experience with the military).

I had high hopes for this one but it fell a little flat. One thing to acknowledge before you start to read this is that this is a memoir and not a fiction book so it will be a little slower and more dry as the author is retelling memories.

I had a few places where I didn't agree with the author and at some times I hated her, there will always be a slight discomfort and hate with war times but she made it seem more than what I would expect. She comes off as entitled and bitchy at times. Maybe get rid of the scene where she is insulting the flag?

A great modern memoir. This is the perfect companion to the Women by Kristin Hannah. These two books are among the best of 2024 and compliment each other perfectly. Outstanding!

Loved this memoir so much more than I thought I would! I am always interested in reading about various groups of people and I was intrigued by the military wife dynamic. However, Simone Gorrindo brought new perspective to the military family- I love how she openly questions war, guns, and the obsession with the American flag. My heart broke for her at times and cheered for her at others. She is such an amazing storyteller and I loved how her various relationships were woven together in this book.

The story of a group of Army wives that are stationed in Georgia with their husbands who are all part of a Special Operations Unit. It is a memoir about their lives and the challenges that they must endure. There are moments of talk about deployment, training, and reintegration upon returning home. Mostly they talk about surviving and finding the people in their lives that they can count on especially when there is no one else. Thanks to NetGalley for this moving read.

Highly recommend this one!! This is my first time reading one of their books but it won't be the last! This book sucks you in from the get-go and you will find yourself thinking about the characters long after you finish it. Do yourself a favor and get this book!!

We often read about soldiers' experiences in the Army including in Special Force operations. We do not often have the opportunity to look as closely into the lives of their wives. In this carefully written book Simone Gorrindo gives us that chance. She weaves the story of her upbringing and that of her husband 's to give us insight what that life is like. Having not come from a military background this reader found the memoir moving and illuminating. It gave me perspective as to what her experience was like (as well as his) and how in many ways we fail as a country to give the support necessary to make these important and difficult lives more tolerable.

This memoir, about the author’s experience as a new military wife, and the relationships she forged with other military wives, is fine. Interesting enough, but I certainly wouldn’t say it’s compelling.
Thanks to #netgalley and #gallerypress for this #arc of #thewives in exchange for an honest review.

Simone Gorrindo has written a memoir that is so absorbing that at times it read like a novel to me. In telling her story of being the wife of someone on active military duty, she is telling the story of many. However, it is also a story that is uniquely her own.

Simone, who wants to write, never expected to be a military wife or to move to Columbus, Georgia. She went because her husband had decided that he needed to be in the army. This put Simone in a small home near a base where she only knew one person at first, another wife. What will happen to Simone while her husband has his own experiences? Readers will want to know.

This is a story about the military, about the things we do for those we love/marry, how we find our way through situations we might not have chosen, the women who become our friends and more. I recommend it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for this title. All opinions are my own.