I am in the minority with my review of this book.

On the positive side, I enjoyed the structure of the book and reading the different voices at different points in time. It keeps the reader on her toes. The woven mystery in the story was also very creatively done.

On the flip side, the deep personal and marriage issues coupled with a risky environment felt too dark and anxious for the summer read I was hoping for. There are some triggers in this book that I did not feel were necessary for the story.

Also, the ending was stylistically so different from the rest of the novel, it left me feeling let down and confused. The book is well written and seems to be loved by many, it was just not for me.

This was a beautifully written story of a couple at sea. Michael convinces his wife Juliet to leave their suburban Connecticut life behind and go sailing for a year with their two young children. Juliet has been struggling with depression, and as the novel develops, we learn more about her past. The story is told from a few different perspectives, mainly Juliet in the present reflecting on her current situation and the sailing trip, and Michael in the form of the ship log. I loved the author's writing and characters; Juliet in particular was compelling and I would have enjoyed an entire book about her life. This book has very suspenseful moments, and the author does a great job writing about being at sea and how perilous that can be; however, I feel the narrative structure of the book doesn't quite fit the story. We know from the beginning that something has happened on the sailing trip and slowly learn more over the course of the book, but this isn't really a thriller, and I feel the structure is somewhat misleading in that sense. This is more of a character-driven story that delves into Juliet and Michael's marriage and their personalities.

So, here lately, I have been finding it hard to concentrate on reading. Worldly distractions were beating out my books where I was constantly checking my phone and bookstagram and emails. That finally changed with this book. I read half of it yesterday after work and barely even thought about my phone. It. Was. Magical.

We follow Michael and Juliet Partlow with their adorable children, quirky Sybil and little Georgie aboard their newly acquired boat, the JULIET. With some convincing, Juliet agrees to partake in Michael's year-long sailing excursion. While you think this may just be about a couple rediscovering their love for one another, this story is so so so much more. There is a depth that took me by surprise with important elements such as mental health, grief, traumatic history and of course, familial love.

I thoroughly enjoyed the perspective, bouncing between Juliet telling her side of the story during the sailing adventure and in the months afterwards along with voyage log entries from Michael. Even though there are underlying tensions, it is evident that there is true love between the two that keeps them going even during rough times. Sybil, of course, is my favorite little human with her bravery and wild imagination.

Amity Gaige weaves a beautifully raw tale about love and loss and how sometimes you have to surrender, lose yourself in order to find your true strength. I highly recommend this, especially for a summer read!

Thank you, net galley, for the e-book in exchange for my honest review.

As soon as I heard about this book I needed to read it. As soon as I downloaded it, I inhaled it within 36 hours. The story follows a family - husband, wife, daughter, son - as they set sail in South America. You can feel the tension as the story begins, and you know that the story won't end well...but you have no idea what that will look like. Amity Gaige brilliantly paints a picture of this marriage and this family life before tragedy hits. It feels like you're reading a story about a family and how they deal with sailing and fixing a marriage and then the tragedy sneaks up on you.

This book will take you out of your present reality. I highly recommend it.

A greater landlubber cannot be found, I think, than me. So this book was a surprise as its purpose and direction unfolded.

I love oceans, water and all that goes with it. It's just boats, sails, jibs and starboards and ports are all in a basket in my brain, unsorted and unlabeled. As I began the tale of Juliet and Michael and their two munchkins, I went forward with a troubled heart and a substantial body of ignorance on the primary topics. Would that topple me from the pages of this tale?

This generous author lends enough handrails to unsailorly readers like me to help one stay braced at the launch and action of this family, with its hint of dangerous relationships and risky challenges and a love between all of them that helps them meet every difficult circumstance with hope and support. I found a great deal of satisfaction in the redeemability granted to many characters that had erred early in their lives.

I did have moments of trepidation - I've had a close family member die of drowning, and tend to shy away from stories of such events. It was a relief to me as the story became involved in storms and raging waters that this was not something I needed to worry about.

The point of view switches primarily between the husband and wife, and a few times I had to go back and pick up the thread because it wasn't completely clear who was who. Once I hit the middle of the book, though, I didn't put the book down, as my full attention was riveted, and I was glued to each page, including the poetry at the end.

3.5 stars rounded to 4, washed up in seafoam, seaweed and sand dollars. (I'm thinking Neskowin Beach, Oregon coast. . . .)

A sincere thank you to Amity Gaige, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review.

Sea Wife is a compelling portrait of a modern marriage on the rocks and coming to terms with trauma and grief. While I found it well written, thoughtful and atmospheric, it was nothing like I expected and I walked away less enthused than I had hoped.

I had heard this book described as a page turning thriller of a family at sea on a journey that upends their lives. I was expecting an adventure, for them to get lost at sea and have to battle for survival but I got literary fiction. Well done literary fiction, but not what I was counting on. As a result, most of the book felt like a quiet setup for action I was waiting for that never came. There were exciting moments and the novel moves quickly due to the dual POVs and timelines, elements that I appreciated and enjoyed, but I would never call this a thriller or page turner. It is much more introspective and a quiet reflection on love, marriage, trauma, political divisions and dreams. It took an almost analytical and intellectual approach to these topics that were at times beautiful and insightful (many highlighted sentences) but at others felt heavy handed, particularly when it got political.

I'd be interested in reading more from the author. She has a gift for capturing characters and settings in a way that shines. I'm curious if I would have enjoyed the book more if it were marketed differently, though I may have been less compelled to pick it up.

Recommend for: Fans of stories about challenging marriages, told here in a unique setting and an interesting style and format

May not be for you if: You're looking for an adventure thriller

Told in alternating timelines, this is a literary page-turner about what a young couple is willing to sacrifice in order to feel free and the cost of choosing an unconventional life.

Sea Wife by Amity Gaige follows the relationship between Juliet and Michael as their family leaves suburban life and embarks on a year-long sailing adventure. This novel is shared through dual perspectives that make this book both thought proking and nuanced.

Michael has dreamed of taking this trip and his narrative is told through his sailing logbook. While Juliet is more hesitant about this trip, she has struggled with her dissertation and bouts of depression, the pull of young family life, and their disintegrating marriage and slowly begins to embrace this new undertaking.

Sea Wife not only takes on their novice experience at sea but also the complexities of marriage, mental health, and parenthood. The descriptions of life at sea as novice sailors were compelling a and Gaige's writing is lyrical and beautifully complex. This unique setting mixed with the reflections on modern marriage made this a propulsive and fascinating read.

Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for a gifted copy, all opinions are my own.

Michael Partlow is finally fulfilling his dream to sail around the world.
With his wife Juliet and two young children, they take off to cruise the Caribbean for a year.
Juliet is struggling and depressed.
She has been unable to finish her PhD dissertation, is trying to overcome feelings from a childhood trauma and her marriage is unraveling.
As they journey at sea, we hear their story as they alternate between viewpoints and shifts in time.
We get to know Michael through his ship's log, about their relationship and the fundamental differences between them.
We observe their time sailing, as they learn about resilience and survival, both at sea and in life.
A lyrically told, realistic and moving account of the complexities of love, life and marriage.
Thank you Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group for the e-ARC via NetGalley.
I'm looking forward to reading Schroder, a book by this author that has been on my backlist.

It takes a command of language to be able to write a book that reaches out to the reader in so many different levels. If you are a sailor wanting to know the details of sailing from Panama to Colombia, this is the manual you will want. If you are looking for a book that will provide you with personal introspection this is what you want. If you want a story of how a struggling marriage can survive a sailing trip, you’ll want to read this. The only thing I didn’t like was the addition two additions to the plot, a traumatic episode from Juliet’s childhood and the possible crime Michael might have committed. It took away from the strength of the book, which to me, was how these two parents and their kids survived the trip by depending on one another.

3.5 stars

Thanks #netgalley #knophpublishinggroup for granting my request for a free eARC of #seawife by Amity Gaige. All opinions are my own.

Juliet and Michael are disillusioned with work, life, and marriage for individual reasons, and even though they are novice sailors, they set out for a yearlong sailing venture with their two young children. Things are fine at first until the unexpected happens.

The story is told in flashbacks, reflections, and journal entries from Michael's and Juliet's perspectives. We learn about their different political views, their strengths and weaknesses, and their disillusion with marriage, career, and life as they gain a clearer perspective of each other. The fear we feel on their behalf as inexperienced sailors permeates the reading experience.

Thoughtful themes include compatibility in marriage and parenting, loss and grief, extreme adventure, life-changing events, depression, childhood traumas, finding your voice, and envisioning a different future.

Even though the story is engaging and is unputdownable at times, I wish the transition between time periods and perspectives had been clearer. If you enjoy stream of consciousness writing, you will enjoy this aspect. I found myself feeling lost on several occasions and needed to reread to figure out which perspective I was reading and where we were in time. This affected my final star rating.

There's a lot going on in this story from sailing jargon (sailing enthusiasts will love it!) to politics (a bit heavy handed at points) to complicated marriages to personal fulfillment to depression, grief, and childhood trauma. There's also a great deal of tension and a tone of sadness, desperation, and grief throughout the story. It reminded me a bit in tone and structure of Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng. The giant teardrop on the cover of Sea Wife conveys the tone well.

I like the title because Juliet is more than a wife and more than her husband's plans for their life. At sea, she finds her voice, survives difficult circumstances, and plants seeds for envisioning a fulfilling future.

Readers who appreciate sailing (sailing jargon and ocean setting), complicated stories of marriage and family, extreme adventure, and descriptive writing might love this story.

*might contain spoilers*
Trigger Warnings/Content Considerations: death of a spouse, depression, discussion of childhood sexual abuse, grief and loss, incompatibility in marriage.

Unfortunately, the Kindle version I received must have been an early one, with inconsistent spacing and lines that run over a large "review copy" icon. Accordingly, it would don't be fair for me to provide feedback since I am unable to enjoy my reading experience. The 3 star rating is intended to be neutral.

Sea Wife is the story of a couple that leaves their life in Connecticut behind to sail a boat for a year in the Caribbean. The point of view switches between the wife post-journey and the husband's logs while at sea. This shows a marriage that is strained and what happens when they completely shake things up. This is not a light, breezy read, instead it is the portrait of a marriage. The sense of place is great as well as the couple's young daughter, but it seems a bit undone or under edited.

The Sea Wife was an interesting read about a strained marriage and a man with a dream. A dream to give up his unsatisfying job, buy a boat and have his family sail the Caribbean with him for a year

Michael Partlow is the unhappy husband, his wife Juliet is a stay-at-home mom with two young children, Sybil 7, and Georgie 2. For nearly a decade Juliet has been working on her PhD; she is also a woman who suffers from depression stemming from abuse as a child. Despite Juliet's concerns, she decides to go along with Michael's plans.What could possibly go wrong?

Based in part on true events, the story alternates between Michael and Juliet's experiences along their sailing journey. Michael's thoughts tare shared through journaling and Juliet's as she looks back once she has returned home. The story, sad at times, also has a good amount of joy and splendor as well. I enjoyed setting and the writing style which was a bit different, I would like to try other books by this author as well.

Sea Wife is a novel that centers around the theme of journeys in multiple ways. It is well written and at times this book is gut wrenching. This is the story of a couple told in a unique structure.

Juliet has made the decision to travel with her husband and two kids for a year on a boat, maybe against her better judgement. Juliet and Michael’s marriage is not perfect and this will test them to the highest level. At first Juliet and Michael start this journey on such a positive note, it seems this is the right decision. But as we all know not everything is what it seems.

The book is narrated by Juliet and alternated with snippets of Michael’s captain log. You will get two totally different views of this relationship and the inner workings of this relationship. We understand early on that a tragedy occurred on this trip, and there is a a small mystery that gets tacked in.

Amity Gaige wrote a very thoughtful introspective book. She took great care to give these characters their own voices. Sea Wife was extremely propulsive and I did not want to put this down. This is for fans of Literary Fiction. It might feel claustrophobic stuck on this boat, but Amity tell this story in way that feels vast at times. Excellent read.

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Our Sea Wife tells a story about loss and love, and the sea. As someone who has lost a soulmate to tragedy, this book really hit me in the heart. It's lovely. It's almost like a love letter. Eh, screw that. It is a love letter. I'm not normally into books that have a romantic type of heart and soul. But I was interested based on the synopsis. And who wouldn't want to travel the open seas with their loved ones? I won't say much more than that. But just read it, okay?

Sea Wife comes out 4.28.2020.

4.5/5 Stars

I think this book may be great for some audiences, but not others. I'm split in the middle. It's not my type of book but it still resonated and raised a lot of questions for me on motherhood, depression, and marriage. Aaah!

Juliet, mother of 2 children under 10 yrs, and struggling with depression, finds out her husband Michael has up and left his job, without warning and buys a yacht, in which he wants to take the family to Panama.

Confused, Juliet goes along with it and it seems she comes out of her depression for a while because this trip has put a little wind in her marriages sails. But things go wrong and chaos ensues. Michael, we find out is busy writing in a journal, telling of the journey and what he wants out of life. Do Juliet and Michael want the same things?

I know I would be pulling my hair out if my partner did this but hey, that's me. A happy, sometimes fun-filled, sometimes chaotic book on family, marriages, the ups and downs, and trauma we have to sometimes face.

A special thanks to NetGalley, Knopf Publishing and author Amity Gaige for my ARC copy of this book.

Sea Wife is a fantastic, unique, and original story. Juliet is the titular "Sea Wife" when her husband buys a sailboat and talks her in to taking their two children to live and travel on it. The story is told through Juliet's point of view interspersed with pages from Michael's "Captain's Log" and conversations between 7 year old Sybil and her counselor. There is also 2 1/2 year old George who they call "Doodle." Juliet is suffering from post-partum depression and has stalled in her pursuit of a Ph.D. So a complete change of lifestyle sounds good to her. It actually works out pretty well until disaster strikes and Juliet is forced to plumb the depth of resources she didn't know she had. Then she learns that the boat purchase wasn't at all what it seemed and she has to take a look at a marriage that wasn't quite what she imagined.

Amity Gaige did an excellent job writing believable if not always likeable characters. The plot is very exciting in parts and still moved along well during the times of less action. This would be a a great book for discussion - there are lots of ideas that arise when you read it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Thank you for the opportunity to read the ARC.

This book is a reflection on the challenges of marriage, parenthood and mental health told by a couple who are in the extreme situation of living on a 44 ft sailboat in the Caribbean. Juliet and Michael Partlow were a typical American family living in Connecticut with their two young children, when Michael convinces his family that they should take a year off and sail around the Caribbean. And while their time at sea is initially filled with wonder and joy at the paradise they get to live in, things turn tragic quickly.

Sea Wife is narrated primarily by Juliet with additions from Michael’s Captain’s logbook/diary. My favorite sections were when 7 year old Sybil interjects. Sybil has such a creative mind and I wanted more of the story to be told from her perspective.

The most impressive part of this book is how Amity Gaige tackles so many issues in a relatively short book (288 pages). She touches on what happens when you realize your partner doesn’t hold the same values and beliefs as you, the struggles of stay-at-home motherhood, depression, traditional gender roles in current times, and childhood traumas. I went back and forth throughout the book as to whether I wanted Juliet and Michael to stay together and whether they truly loved each other. And I get the feeling that the characters were struggling with that too.

I think parts of the story could have been streamlined and a glossary of sailing terms in the back would have been useful. But overall I really enjoyed this book and its making me wonder if my marriage could survive a year at sea.

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars

This review has been posted on Goodreads and will be posted on my Instagram account @ablondebooknerd on April 4th with a follow up post on April 28th.

Sea Wife by Amity Gaige is about a husband and wife struggling to get back to feeling about each other the way they did when they first got married. In an attempt to rejuvenate their relationship Juliet and Michael decide to take their two young children and go sailing for an extended period of time. Juliet has zero sailing experience while Michael grew up sailing a bit with his father. Over the course of the book, secrets are revealed that will devastate the characters. Read and enjoy!