Nobody's Wife

Holy cow! This book was chilling! There were so many jaw dropping moments that I just couldn’t put it down! The authors writing is phenomenal the way it sucks you in and then spits you back out.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

After reading Pearson's debut novel Missing Pieces, I couldn't wait to read Nobody's Wife. From the first few pages I couldn't tear my eyes away from the story and abandoned all of the other jobs I should have been doing. Pearson has woven a story that combines love and betrayal to create a climatic tale in which no one can be a winner. Emily and Josephine are sisters with a strong bond, and although neither anticipates that one will betray the other, the plot is so strong that as a reader I found it easy to see just how easily a seemingly wonderful life can begin to unravel.

With four central characters, I felt that I knew each of them personally. I grew to like them all even when they made costly decisions that would later hurt others. I understood their intentions and desires, despite not wanting them to behave in the way they did. There were a number of twists and turns in the book, and I read each chapter with my heart in my mouth. I was desperate to see how the story might end as it seemed impossible that Pearson could create an ending that would be acceptable to a reader. However, with her strong understanding of human connection and emotion, Pearson brought all of the strands together to leave me feeling that the ending was both realistic and satisfying.

Nobody's Wife is a novel to get lost in and devour in one sitting. It is the sort of novel that stays with you long after you finish the last page, and leaves you hoping that even after tragedy, there is a chance of healing.

Nobody’s wife is an honest and heartfelt story of two sisters, of marriage and of love. The author drew me into the story in such a way that I felt often as though I was right there with Emily, Michael, Jack and Josephine, watching their lives unfold in front of me. It was a raw and sometimes intrusive look into a relationship, a marriage and a family, as well as four individuals.

I loved the way the story moved so seamlessly between one character to the next, building a tension in places that made my heart pound in my chest.

It’s a beautifully crafted and deeply honest story of marriage and love.

Thank you to NetGalley, Agora Books and the author for allowing me to read this story..

Emily and Josephine are sisters, close throughout their entire lives, and especially so after their mother left for Australia. Emily and Michael are married, and Josephine has Jack, but then Emily and Jack meet, and the attraction is shattering, and everything changes, with a catastrophic outcome.

Nobody’s Wife is a devastating story of family and marriage and betrayal, and just how far across the line people will go for love.

Laura has such a way of drawing you in with her writing, like you’re ethereally floating in between the storylines and amongst the characters, and I soon felt as if I knew them. This isn’t a light, happy read, but it is a deeply moving and wonderfully observed one. Laura’s story twists and turns and kept me hanging on, desperate to read more, and I tore through it in no time.

I thoroughly enjoyed the authors last book, missing pieces, and was desperate to read this one so was so pleased to receive an ARC, it went straight to the top of my list.

This is the story of two sisters who really only have each other; they have different dads and their mum moved to Australia leaving them the family home, and not a lot else. She isn’t really a part of their lives so they are closer than ever when Emily gets married to Micheal. The dynamics quickly shift; they go from the three of them flat sharing to becoming a married couple and a sister who now lives alone. Emily has doubts about her marriage, and if Micheal is in fact the big love of her life. I felt at this point a little angry toward Emily, although I’m sure it’s a situation many find themselves in without being 100% sure it’s the right thing for them. Micheal is besotted with Emily, which is part of his charm, and she is happy to marry him and have a nice, safe life, despite her reservations.
Josephine soon meets Jack, and becomes instantly attracted to him, his nerdy demeanor, and the fact he’s so different to all her past boyfriends. He’s somewhat vulnerable and she likes that, slowly falling in love with him. The trouble is, so is her sister....

This is a sad story of just exactly how far you would go for true love, and how many people could get hurt in the pursuit of happiness.

I liked all four central characters, although Emily did annoy me at times with her selfish blinded behaviour, Josephine needs her sister at a time where she’s feeling alone, yet she suffers the ultimate betrayal. Michael is nothing short of adorable and loving, almost to his detriment, and he knows this can only lead to heartache, as he acts like he truly doesn’t deserve the spoilt Emily.
When things eventually come crashing down, they do so emotionally and gut wrenchingly that I almost couldn’t read what was happening. It was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. My only criticism is that I didn’t feel it ended the way it could have, it felt a bit rushed and I was left with questions, but perhaps that’s just because I didn’t want it to end... all in all a good read but I was left a little disappointed at how things ended up, or didn't end up....

I couldn't put Nobody's Wife down. As ever Pearson's writing is lucid and lyrics - heartbreaking and tender at the same time. What I really enjoyed about this book though was the portrayal of female desire, that Emily has autonomy over her choices despite the betrayal she causes. I felt the characters were truth to life and walked off the page into my head. I really enjoyed Missing Pieces, Pearson's first novel, but this one is my favourite of the two.

Thanks to Netgalley and Agora for this eARC

I loved Laura Pearson's debut Missing Pieces and was delighted for the opportunity to read and review her new book, Nobody's Wife.

Despite the fact that some of the characters behave badly, indeed very badly, I found this a riveting read and even better than Missing Pieces. Ms Pearson shows that human beings aren't perfect, no matter how hard we try, and that actions have consequences.

Suffice it to say that there were no winners here. When Emily marries Michael she thinks he is the man for her until she is introduced to her sister, Josephine's, new boyfriend, Jack. What follows is heartbreaking for all concerned.

I enjoy reading about situations that can happen in real life and how people react to them. Nobody's Wife is beautifully written and deserves to be widely read. Many thanks to Netgalley and Agora Books.

Nobody's wife is very well written, I was hooked after reading the prologue!
The book follows two sisters and their partners who are intertwined in their relationships, it never feels like separate story's it all flows together.

Great book from start to finish although I feel like the ending was a little rushed, and could have been expanded on more.
Laura's writing style is definitely one I enjoyed, and will be looking out for in the future.

Wow a completely jaw dropping wild ride of a read. I picked it up thought I would read a few pages and found myself unable to put it down.So chilling so twisty a story that will stay on your mind long after you close the final page, # netgalley #agorabooks

This book examines the relationship between sisters, love, and marriage. The authors writing style is so captivating, I felt like I was there with each of the four main characters. I thought she did a great job of taking a realistic problem and diving into it in a way that kept me hooked and wanting more. This is especially difficult when you feel like you shouldn't be able to connect with certain characters due to their poor decisions. It was such a quick read, due to the addictive nature of the story telling and the developed relationships presented. I can't wait to see what else the author produces in the future.

Emily and Josephine are sisters who live together and are best friends. When Emily marries Michael, an author who is head over heels in love with her Josephine wonders if Emily will still have time for her.

Josephine meets Jack and when she introduces him to Emily and she feels an instant connection and a spark. Jack and Emily start a passionate and forbidden affair which is exciting although wrong.

Their unsuspecting partners find out quite randomly and there's no going back from what unfolds...and that twist! An absolutely superb read which I loved and am still thinking of now.

I loved this book. Laura Pearson has managed to create characters who you still sympathise with despite the fact their actions may be ones that you disapprove of - which is a real skill. By the end of the book I felt I knew Emily, Josephine, Michael and Jack as well as if they were real people - with all their faults. This is an emotional read - but one that I thoroughly enjoyed and I think one of Pearson's strongest skills is to capture the thoughts and feelings a character has during those tiny moments that alter the course of fate with such stunning prose it sometimes takes your breath away. Would highly recommend.

This book didn't disappoint. I found it an extremely well written book which leaves you with conflicting emotions in relation to the characters, events that take place and choices made. I especially loved how the narrative depicts what each person is thinking in relation to how they behave and that inner turmoil that can occasionally rear it's head in difficult situations (something I definitely experience from time to time and so made the characters feel real for me).

I was eager to find out how things unfolded and, once I got to a certain point, definitely was hooked to the end.

Wow what a sticky sticky story! Emily and Josephine are sisters, Emily is married to Michael and Josephine is dating Jack everyone is happy...….well until two of them did the most unforgivable thing that rocks everyone's life to the core.
Wow what a book! I seriously wanted to punch a few people. This story was heartbreaking. And the "bad" people who caused all the betrayal you will HATE. Lol I can sometimes feel for the jerks but NOPE these two were total selfish tool bags. Laura Pearson did an amazing job with this storyline and these characters. I love a book that fills me with such passion, even when it is passion of hate!
I look forward to reading more from Laura!

Sisters. Marriage. Double betrayal.

Is love enough, even if it destroys lives of others? How far would you go for love and your own happiness if you knew that it would cause grief and devastation in its path?
Sometimes it takes just one person in the equation to make everything fall apart. The foundation that the house was build on starts cracking little by little, and piece by piece it falls away causing destruction. Just one wrong person can end it all.

This was a quick, but not an easy read. A slow moving family drama with a little bit of scandal. The descriptions of relationship dynamics between all characters were raw and heart wrenching but for some reason I had hard time liking any of the people involved. Sad, frustrated, repulsed, disappointed, angry: feelings that run through me when reading this book.

Thank you NetGalley, Agora Books, and the author, Laura Pearson, for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

Nobody’s Wife is a forensic analysis of the emotion and motivation that drive Emily to betray her husband and her sister. The four main protagonists are brought vividly to life, and inspire anger, empathy, and sympathy to varying degrees. The writing is beautiful and literary, without ever becoming too verbose. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.

This is a fantastic novel from Laura Pearson the story revolves around four people a married couple her sister and boyfriend Emily and Jack fall for each other as soon as soon as they set eyes on one another and as they embark on a dangerous afair things get really messy and as relationships fall apart it ends in tragedy it tares a family apart and leaves everyone broken a fabulous read

I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and independent review.
It’s hard to review this book without giving away any spoilers in my opinion. But all I can say is that I loved the book. It is written in a very easy way, which makes it gripping and for a compulsive read. The characters are interesting and well scripted.
Love, betrayal, family and deceit.
On the one hand, I couldn’t wait to get to the end to see what happened and on the other, I didn’t want it to finish.
An emotional read. 4.5 stars

Thank you Net Galley and Agora Books for an early copy of Nobody's Wife. I loved it, really loved it. The ending pages disappointed me a bit but all in all a Fabulous Book. I felt the characters and their emotions. A Great read!!

This book has it all; love, loss and betrayal. Families at their worst! Well written and in a really engaging style that made me want to keep reading.

Laura Person's Nobody's Wife is enthralling. It explores different aspects of love and relationships. The love of sisters and the impact of a damaged childhood. It explores true love and the different depths a person can love. can someone love more than one person at the same time. Can A broken trust ever be healed and should true love be denied. A page Turner and one not to be missed.

When Emily marries Michael, her sister, Josephine has to learn to stand on her own two feet. Until now they have lived together, shared friends and their lives are tightly woven together but Emily and Michael are moving in together and despite Emily’s protests that nothing will change, Josephine knows that this won’t be the case. When Josephine meets somebody and falls in love it sets ripples through the already precarious relationship between she and Emily.

An examination of the relationship between sisters this is a short but uncomfortable read. The bonds between Emily and Josephine feel uncomfortably tight and they are very co-dependent upon one another. They have been brought up by their mother who has moved abroad meaning that they have become very reliant on one another. Emily’s marriage is the first time that the two have been properly separated and it is this gap which Josephine chooses to fill with Jack.

I was drawn into this book with its slow, melodic pacing. It unfurls slowly with the marriage, the honeymoon, Josephine falling in love with Jack and then Jack is introduced to Emily and Michael and the tension starts to simmer. This is wonderfully written stuff with loaded glances and weighted words communicating what cannot be fully said. These passages are spine tingling and uncomfortable and absolutely glorious.

I loved the restlessness that was just beneath the surface. Emily and Michael are newlyweds, living together alone for the first time and yet, Emily wants more. It is an interesting premise, to write a person who is never happy with their lot and wants more. Of course, for Emily, this decision will have huge repercussions – is she willing to lose Josephine?

Complicated and melancholic, Nobody’s Wife is a riveting read. Told via a deftly handled multi-person narrative which smoothly moves between our four protagonists, I read it one sitting. I love a book with unlikable characters, with a great plot and understated, subtle writing and Nobody’s Wife had it in spades. It would make a great book club book I think as it has so many themes that it is sure to provoke discussion. Great stuff.

Description
‘Of the four of them, only three remained. And there was no going back from there.’

Emily and Josephine have always shared everything. They’re sisters, flatmates, and best friends. It’s the two of them against the world.

When Emily has the perfect wedding, and Josephine finds the perfect man, they know things will change forever. But nothing can prepare them for what, or who, one of them is willing to give up for love.

Four people. Three couples. Two sisters. One unforgivable betrayal.

From the best-selling author of Missing Pieces comes a heart-wrenching story about family, loyalty, and obsession that will have you racing to the finish.




Love, betrayal, family, and deceit. Nobody’s Wife is a devastating story of family and marriage and betrayal, and just how far across the line people will go for love. I was I am still in shock about the selfishness and betrayal of Emily and Jack. Oh so hard to even imagine what the heck they were thinking. It is not a happy read if you are looking for that. I was angry, and just ...just could not understand WHY! In which the writer is indeed good at grabbing you hard.

This book had me as a wreck and saying out loud - what the hell Emily?! This book is filled with drama, love, damning betrayal, and loss. It isn’t normally what I’d read but I so loved it!! I’m a big fan of thrillers because they keep me turning the page but the amount of freaking drama in this made it absolutely unable to put down! This is sure to be seen around the pool!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

What an amazing thriller! I loved the character development and stayed up way past my bedtime to find out what was going to happen next. I highly recommend this author.

I enjoyed Nobody’s Wife a lot - I read it in just a couple of days and the characters have really stayed with me. Would highly recommend to anyone who wants a fulfilling, but not overly challenging read.

Laura Pearson's second novel, Nobody's Wife, focuses on two sisters, Emily and Josephine, who have always shared everything. They're not just sisters. They're also roommates and best friends. It's always been the two of them against the world.

But change is inevitable. As the story opens, Emily has a perfect wedding to Michael. He's older than Emily, but adores and is committed to her. He's solid and safe, if not exciting. His first novel was a success, but he's been struggling to complete his second book, writing travel articles and book reviews in the interim.

Josephine finds the perfect man. Jack works in the local bookstore and writes short stories, He lives in a shabby apartment. His feelings for Josephine are genuine, but not as strong as her feelings for him.

Emily and Josephine are utterly unprepared for what happens after Josephine brings Jack to dinner at Emily and Michael's home. Jack realizes that Michael is the writer whose work he admires, and the two men strike up a friendship. Michael agrees to read Jack's work.

But something else happens on that fateful night. Something is set in motion that will change all of their lives over the course of the coming year.

Laura Pearson elevates what could have been a melodramatic, tawdry tale about infidelity, betrayal, and obsession into a complex, spellbinding examination of the relationship between the sisters and the far-reaching consequences that can result from acting upon attraction and passion.

Nobody's Wife is a character study crafted with precision, believability, and emotional authenticity. Although her characters make ill-advised decisions there are no villains in this story. Rather, Pearson examines their motivations, desires, and actions with sensitivity. As a result, the characters are empathetic -- even relatable -- and Pearson challenges her readers to contemplate what they would do if they found themselves in the same unenviable situation.

One unforgivable betrayal compels the story forward and forces each character to evaluate what matters mot to him/her -- family, loyalty, and doing the right thing vs. fulfillment of desires, surrender to romantic feelings, and respite from feeling unfulfilled.

The prologue reveals that by the end of the book only three of the four will remain and there will be "no going backwards from there." Through Pearson's restrained writing style, she takes readers on her characters' journey to that tragic point sans judgment. Rather, events transpire in a logical manner as the consequences of their choices are revealed.

The result is a compelling drama at the core of which is the complex, multi-layered relationship of Emily and Josephine, and the question of whether they can ever reach a point of forgiveness and resolution.

Nobody's Wife a worthy successor to Pearson's stunning debut work, Missing Pieces.

Nobody’s Wife is a story about love, relationships and betrayal. Emily discovers that she married the wrong guy. The right guy is her sister, Josephine’s boyfriend.
(Any additional information would be a spoiler).

This book examines the relationship between sisters and what would cause one to betray the other. When is the line crossed and forgiveness becomes impossible? How loyal is a wife who discovers she married the wrong guy? Can one person in an intimate relationship be so deceived that they think it moving to another level while the other is just biding time?

I enjoyed this book. It kept you wondering what was going to happen next. It is difficult to write a review with spoiling the story. Just know that the characters are well developed. There are three main characters and an additional central character. It is written from the different POV which make it unique.

You will not be disappointed if you buy this book. Just make sure you allow plenty of time to read it because you will not want to put it down.


I received an ARC from Agora Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book.

This was more of a domestic drama with a lot of suspense than an actual thriller in my opinion. With that said I thought that it was a quick, easy read, which made you question everyone. The way the author did the story was so unique in my opinion, I had to give it 5 stars. I think if you like the more domestic drama with suspense you will love this book!
Will be using in a challenge and recommending to those in Chapter Chatter Pub!

On the day she married Michael, Emily felt something wasn't right but she just couldn't put a finger on it.
On the day Emily met Jack (her sister's new boyfriend), her world would never be the same again. Her feelings were reciprocated by Jack and this set them off on a collision course of deceit, heartbreak and death.
Very enjoyable read.

First, thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read an e-galley of this book.

I loved this story so much! I was on a road trip, so while my husband drove, I read this book from start to finish. I had to close my Kindle and just dwell on this story.

Such a heartwarming story of family and love!
#NetGalley #Nobody's Wife

Wow, I loved this book and did not want it to end. Very well written, honest and I had no idea of the final outcome. I have read Laura Pearson's last novel and enjoyed it - but found this a better read.

I would thoroughly recommend this book and enjoyed it very much.

Laura Pearson is a new author for me but I found her narrative to be straight from the heart and extremely addictive.
Two sisters who have had a difficult time growing up without a father and then their mother moving to the other side of the world. They live together and share everything.
Then one of them meets a man who's to become her husband but the sisters remain close until inevitably the other sister meets someone. Will this be her happy ever after ?
A good novel which is heartbreaking, emotional and honest love!d it.

Laura Pearson ripped my heart out, threw it on the pavement, stomped on it, and then handed me gloves and Scotch tape to try and mend it.

I had been tremendously impressed by Missing Pieces, therefore my expectations were high when I opened Nobody’s Wife. There’s something grey, gloomy, and terribly sad in this title, and this mix makes it so appealing. I couldn’t resist. I did not want to resist.

Enter Emily, Josephine, Michael, and Jack. Four people, four hearts, four lives. What happens when the ones closest to you cross an invisible line?

I am an only child. I immediately envied Emily and Josephine’s relationship. Their bond felt unbreakable and their love powerful, enabling them to overcome any hardship coming their way. They were a real ‘us against the world’ item, even with the addition of Michael and his marriage to Emily. He somehow fitted into the picture, understanding the women’s indelible link. But the balance is thrown when Jack appears. At least, this is what you’re supposed to think.

Laura Pearson knows how complex people are and she plays with our flaws, our dreams, and the emotions that make us who we are. Emily’s wedding looked perfect. Only a bird’s eye could have caught the first clues… I adored how hints were subtly scattered, offering Nobody’s Wife a familiar authenticity. It went on throughout the entire novel. No black, no white. Just a long and intense line of grey on which the characters must walk to find their way. But to be a tightrope-walker and stay up there, choices must be made.

When life changes and Michael and Emily move into the girls’ family home, leaving Josephine on her own for the first time, the latter doesn’t know how to react. But soon, she finds herself swept away by the handsome Jack, and it looks like her own life could take on a nice turn.

Do we believe life is as simple as this? Of course not!

Under Laura Pearson’s quill, this small world starts dancing, orbiting around the sisters, tracing beautiful and painful circles that will change their lives. We think we are in command of our days, of our feelings, but we are just lying to ourselves. The author takes on the role of the angel and the devil, exposing the darkest of thoughts, the urges that we can’t control, and the aftermath of our mistakes. I truly appreciated that Nobody’s Wife is not pointing fingers. The book only shows you the worst scenario that no one could have predicted. Conflicting emotions live between the pages, exploring the ‘what if’s and the risks of crushing a family in the name of love. I was overwhelmed by the raw and emotional journey.

Did I like all characters? No. But they all played their parts. I never warmed to Jack, finding him too secretive, a bit manipulative, and playing on both sides as if he couldn’t, or wouldn’t be left with a prize, even if it wasn’t the one he was hoping for. Despite her choices, I was able to understand Emily and I kept wondering about settling for second best, or chasing the wild, pure dream songs talk about.

With such a brilliant and heavily-emotional novel of love and betrayal, characterization must be perfect. Nobody’s Wife makes it happen. Laura Pearson offers a wonderfully addictive tale of family making us think about our lives, expectations, and what the future holds. Can we be happy without sacrificing others’ happiness?

Great read. The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in.

Laura Pearson crafts this story with quite a few layers.

You have two sisters, Emily and Josephine, who have had a “we’re in this together” mindset since Josephine’s birth. They share a mother but have different fathers, which is another layer. Emily’s father passed away, whereas Josephine’s abandoned her and her family. The sister’s relationship is almost symbiotic. At one point during Emily’s wedding to Michael, he finds himself wishing his wife would look for him the way she looks for Josephine.

You have Emily’s marriage. As Linda Pearson relates the moments leading up to it, the ceremony, and the reception, you find yourself hoping Emily will be happy yet suspecting she is settling for what she thinks marriage should be. One thing is imminently clear: Michael loves her, and he deserves a wife who cherishes him as much as he cherishes Emily.

You have Josephine, still single but in a new relationship. She meets Jack and is instantly taken with him. He’s a little slower to feel the connection, but he’s good looking, charming, and creative. You can see potential for Josephine.

You have friendships. Josephine has a close bond with her friend Ben, and Jack and Michael form a friendship borne of both being writers. Well, Jack does so professionally, with Michael writing a book he hopes will be published.

Within this come the betrayals. The blurb gives you a clue: “Four people. Three couples.” I give Linda Pearson credit for making the betrayal feel almost organic. You can understand how it happens, and you might even sort of root for this couple. Yes, you know that two people will be terribly hurt, but if their relationships aren’t fulfilling to them–if they are not receiving what they need–then is it really “wrong” for them to be together?

The problem is that this book occasionally falls into a little melodrama here and there, and with four points of view, you sometimes find yourself wishing you could hurry up and get to one of the cheaters. Sometimes I found myself wondering what this book would have been like had it been written just from those two perspectives. On the other hand, you do get to know these people pretty well, and you feel like they’re fairly well developed.

Parts of this book made me cry. One character in particular is written heartbreakingly. There is a scene where this person goes to visit his/her parents, and the ache he/she feels just about rips you apart.

The ending might upset a few people. I can see why Linda Pearson felt she had to give the ending she does, but I also can see why some readers want something different. If you read this one, I’d love to know your thoughts.

For a topic that could have been abhorrent such as a woman becoming involved in a secret affair with her sister's boyfriend, Laura Pearson handles this with narrative class and elegance.
The points of view of all four characters are shown: Michael, Emily's husband who loves her to the point of adoration; Emily, Michael's wife who upon meeting her sister Josephine's boyfriend, feels things she has never felt for her husband; Josephine, who adores her boyfriend and the older sister that was like a mother to her when their own mother abandoned them; and Jack, Josephine's boyfriend who falls hard for Emily, and realizes that what he feels for Josephine is nothing in comparison.
The fates of these four people become entwined in tragic and irrevocable ways, that will leave two people angry and betrayed, while two others don't know if they can ever find happiness again.
Pearson did a wonderful job with character portrayal and complexity. So much so, that in the end, it's difficult to feel contempt for the ones who clearly deserve it. This novel really stands by itself on the topic of "the heart wants what the heart wants" and the consequences of following your desires.

This was a novel never meant to have a happy ending. You'll see that pretty quickly in. I mean, how can it? But, that is ok, the novel kept me moving along to see just how bad it dissolves. It was pretty bad, in a surprisingly sad way. I found myself thinking about this book and the characters days after I had finished reading it, which is a good sign.

This book will send shivers up your spine. It certainly did mine.
The authors writing style is amazing-this book instantly grabs you.
Thank you to both NetGalley and Agora Books for my eARC in exchange for my honest unbiased review