The Younger Wife

 

“The Younger Wife” by Sally Hepworth

Published by St Martin’s Press

Finished 3/31 – 3/5 stars

This was an entertaining, quick read about a dysfunctional family trying to come to terms with their past and the impact it has had on their lives.  It all starts at the wedding of Stephen and Heather when something unknown happens, causing 911 to be called.  We then go back in time to the year leading up to the wedding.  Each chapter focuses on either Heather or one of Stephen’s adult daughters, Tully and Rachel. The alternating perspectives allows you to learn more about the internal demons they are each living with.  It’s pretty much all included – dementia, alcoholism, eating disorders, rape, kleptomania, and both verbal and physical abuse.  In addition, throughout the book Stephen’s personality and actions are in question leaving the reader to wonder just what kind of man he truly is.  We then come full circle back to the wedding to find out just what happened.  Afterwards, revelations are just kind of thrown at you and that is where the book didn’t work for me.  I think if the ending had been written differently, it probably would have been more of a 4-star book.  I still really enjoyed the majority of the book, but the ending was a disappointment.   

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for gifting me with an advanced copy to read and provide an honest review.

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