This book is the definition of morally grey, and morally grey is my favorite color. THE ECHO WIFE is Sarah Gailey’s second adult novel, an ethical roundabout that wouldn’t go amiss in the next season of Black Mirror. Evelyn, the main character, is a scientist in a field that is ethically questionable at best--the development of clones for scientific uses. One might say she is inherently unlikeable for the clinical way she views these subjects as disposable. And then we find out her husband has left her, and not only has he had an affair, he has had an affair with a clone of Evelyn he has programmed to his specific wants and needs. Shit. Evelyn ain’t so unlikeable anymore, now faced with the dilemma many women face all too often with an added speculative twist.

This book is mash-up of sci-fi, horror, and literary fiction, of should we/shouldn’t wes and countless what ifs. Exquisitely written, this science fiction thriller will appeal to fans of dark speculative fiction, and keep you asking what would you do?

Reader, I still don’t know.

Thank you to Tor for sending me an eARC for review.

This book is what happens when you come up with a crazy cool idea for a story but it turns out you bit off more than you could chew. I am not sure what I would even call this book as far as a genre. It was not thrilling or suspenseful and to call it sci-fi is an insult to good science fiction authors and their work. The “science” was nonexistent and the language used was meaningless. Words like hormonal neuropsychological conditioning or cognitive mapping are great words to use but not in a vacuum. You have to be able to back it up with some facts even if your audience is all science geeks. We get no real insight into the cloning process and how we got there. We never really understand how the main character or her husband came about cloning people. They just do and apparently can do it in a lab with one assistant and a Frankenstein like receptacle with synthetic amnion. Say what? As a science major this book was very groan-worthy. I can handle science “fiction” but you still have a responsibility to explain what you present.

As for any discussion of the ethics involved in cloning much less killing clones, forget it. Why mess up the story which is... woman scientist’s husband makes a clone to replace his wife with a “better” version because she doesn’t want to have a baby and she dares to have a mind of her own. Gee, an award winning scientist and expert in cloning and she didn’t want to be a housewife?? What were you thinking?? Even worse the original wife calls the clone a better version more than once. Seriously? The majority of the book deals with the repetitive but rambling thoughts of Evelyn dealing with the repercussions of this stupid husband’s deeds and the cloned wife, Martine who she really can’t seem to get a grip on. Thrown in there is a back story of growing up with an abusive father but it felt like it belonged to a completely different story. It didn’t add to the story or understanding of the character. All the characters are unbelievable and unlikeable. The entire story basically takes place in two locations. There is no outside world to speak of. No idea what year it is, how clones function other than they are apparently used and discarded as needed, no sense of time or place or society. Any comparison of this to Westworld or anything else for that matter is a joke. There were also so many plot holes you could have buried hundreds of clones in them! ;) This is simply a third rate thriller with a twist that was too big for the author to handle.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC In exchange for an honest review.

Fabulous.

A great story and a very insightful look at how we view ourselves and our shortcomings. Would recommend.

I’m not sure if I’d want to categorize this as a thriller; it felt more sci-fi than anything. The pacing, for one, wasn’t fast paced as a thriller would be; two, there wasn’t the intensity I was expecting. And I felt like there wasn’t a good character development, except for Martine, whose little changes were shown as the story progressed. I also found Evelyn’s internal dialogue a little too repetitive at times. That said, I found this generally a decent read; just not one I’d revisit.

In ‘The Echo Wife’ we have Evelyn, the protagonist, a brilliant, smart and successful scientist, who loved her work and being in her lab more than being a wife, much to her husband’s distaste, who expected her to behave like one, and most of all, want a baby and have a family. So what did he do? See someone else of course. Someone who would attend to his beck and call, someone who, like him, wanted a baby too.

Then, one day, Evelyn got a call from the woman whom her husband, Nathan, had married. And as the story went, this woman was an exact replica of her – a clone named Martine; only programmed differently, therefore she was the total opposite of Evelyn. The second time Martine called, was a desperate call – to help her with their dead husband. How were they to get rid of him? Martine wasn’t supposed to exist; nobody knew about her and nobody should know about her. If he was discovered dead, there was a possibility that Evelyn will be accused of murder. What do they do?

There was suspense, yes, but it was more towards the end, and I did enjoy the twists that I didn’t see coming, except for one. The characters were generally unlikeable, though I did like the relationship that grew and ‘matured’, if I may, between Evelyn and Martine (I had wondered, from the very beginning, what a very odd name. I kept ‘reading’ her name as Maritime for some reason LOL), but of course, there was a reason she was named so, and it was revealed at the end.

I also liked that it made me think – what does it mean to be a woman? How do we function as one – as we have been ‘programmed’ to be – submissive, ‘wifely’ and to reproduce, like Martine and Evelyn’s mom; or Evelyn – unapologetic, independent and goal-driven, then only to be called a ‘bitch’? Can’t women, like men, be whoever we want to be and be given the equal respect? And were we given a chance to have a clone of us, what would we want retained, what would we want erased and start afresh? Can we really start afresh, or like Martine opined, there’s always a little of us ‘stamped somewhere’ no matter how much we try to change? And the argument again – do we need to change for anyone? Can’t women just be, and be respected just the same, without ever being called a bitch? Bossy? Or deemed ‘unsuccessful’ for choosing to be a SAHM?

I’d enjoy this better if my expectations were a little different. I was expecting a psychological thriller – pace-driven and intense. You’d enjoy this if you’re a fan of sci-fi and don’t mind unlikeable characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor publishing for the free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

Even though it's never actually identified, for some reason I think this was set in Cambridge MA. There's nothing in the book that screams "Cambridge" to me, nor is there anything that screams "Massachusetts" and it's entirely probable that I'm wrong. Still... it felt very set there.

Anyway, the plot is relatively predictable, although there are a few decent surprises. The identity of Martine, for example, surprised me. Likewise Evelyn's response to the later events, although she's consistently portrayed as being very clinical and intellectual. This feels less like a mystery/thriller than science fiction set in a proximate future with a light thriller overlay. That's not bad, just something readers should be aware of before reading.

eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley.

3.5/5. Though technically this a thriller, it does not move at a thriller pace. It has very light touches of domestic and psychological thriller, but mostly it's heavier on the science than anything. Comparisons to Big Little Lies mixed with Killing Eve or something of the sort fall flat. But if people go into this knowing it's more of an examination of cloning and the self, and more character-driven than plot-driven, I think they would enjoy it. I do believe it would be a good book club book to discuss.

The Echo Wife by Sarah Galley is a crazy ride of thriller. Martine is a clone of Evelyn. And she's married to Evelyn's ex-husband. And she's pregnant with his child! And now, he's dead! Evelyn and Martine work together to cover up his death, and they end up forming a strange sort of bond. This story was crazy, but in a good way, and I recommend it! Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

WHAT A RIDE. I know that whenever I pick up a Sarah Gailey book I'm in for it (in a good way). They write stories that are weird, unexpected, and utterly fascinating. The Echo Wife is no exception. In an utterly original twist on both "the other woman" and "she killed him" tropes, Gailey deftly weaves a domestic scifi thriller. Evelyn isn't a particularly likeable character, but she's compelling as heck. Honestly, nobody in this book was likeable, but they were all fascinating. Rife with deep bioethical quandaries to ponder over, I'm sure I'll be thinking about this book for weeks. The plot is a thrill ride that never feels rushed or sluggish and the whole book is peppered with delightful black humor. If you like inventive scifi, domestic thrillers, or both - READ THIS BOOK! I have to use shouty all-caps because it really is that good. I've never read anything like it and anticipate recommending it widely.

Compelling characters with a story that raises a lot of interesting questions. Love the juxtaposition of the scientist and the clone--and the twist on modern families by the end.

3.5 stars

This is definitely not the type of novel I normally read, but the comp to Killing Eve and the concept won me over. Unfortunately, comping to Killing Eve made me think Evelyn and the clone her husband made and had an affair with were going to become a romantic couple and they don't.

The rest of it was enjoyable. It was a little slow in parts though. The part I enjoyed the most was the lens on how misogyny affected both women's lives personally and professionally. Evelyn is a full developed, complicated character and her childhood trauma and how that affects her as an adult was deftly handled. The relationship between the women grew and changed, and it was completely believable, even though some of the other stuff in the book wasn't. Like how no one noticed what they were doing in the garden. To someone who isn't a big science person, all the science explanation for the cloning process were understandable and sounded fully possible.

Good for fans who like domestic thrillers with a sci-fi bent.

I included The Echo Wife and its fascinating heroine Evelyn Caldwell on a list of 9 Complicated Female Narrators Who Will Surprise you for Tor.com, in a blurb that teases the story ahead of its pub date without giving anything away. I look forward to delving more into the novel post-publication, once more readers will be able to discuss its commentary on marriage, femininity, ethics, nature versus nurture, and more.

Just because you can do something, should you? This is one of the questions raised by The Echo Wife, a kind of modern day take on Frankenstein.
“Sometimes, in order to make something develop in the right direction, you have to hurt it.”
Evelyn Caldwell is a brilliant scientist who has succeeded in cloning humans. Her projects are used to harvest organs, or stand in as decoys for famous people. But then Evelyn’s ex-husband uses Evelyn’s research to create his own clone—a replica of Evelyn he names Martine.
There is so much going on in The Echo Wife. There are the science fiction aspects of the story, there is a slow burn thriller, there are moral questions regarding the ethics of cloning actual people and there are thought-provoking topics such as the pre-programming implanted in all of us. And the writing is so clean and clear and cutting. The Echo Wife is so uniquely well-done. I highly recommend it.
“Things get ruined sometimes. That’s just how it is.”

Genre-wise, this book was not what I expected, based on the title and description. I can't decide if this is a good thing, though, so let's say it is, that the author defies expectations. From the outset, I felt suspicious of the plot, from the moment that Martine phones asking for help (on Nathan's phone). It set off alarm bells for me that this was a trap (could have been another great story that way, btw) but in any event, the main character's motivation to answer the phone and then to go over to Martine's house seem weakly motivated. However, as soon as Evelyn is motivated to cover up a crime based on her research and her reputation, the story took off for me. It defined the character as more than scorned woman, as a ruthless scientist. It's not a coincidence that the reader is shown, at that moment, the nature of her research subjects as less than human, disposable, and shown no mercy. Evelyn is cold and vengeful, perhaps an odd combination, but a fascinating one none the less. The nuanced background of Evelyn's parents, her resemblances to them, and her desire to be different from her mother, are also an interesting counterpoint to what is essentially a mashup of Frankenstein and a nature vs nurture study. Overall, a good, if evenly plotted read.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

“Keep your enemies closer” is an apt adage for this novel that is a perfect blend of orphan black and girl on the train. It swept me up in its blend of sci fi Romance and intrigue and will be one of the most talked about titles of 2021. The author has visited Denver’s lead bookshop, bookbar and I hope they will again so I can thank them for this novel

Interesting take on cloning in the near future. A scifi/thriller/mystery combination written as if it is a confession. Characters are all seriously flawed, but the premise and the writing propels you until you know how it all ends. Recommended for fans of Ex Machina and/or Frankenstein.

I will read a hundred thousand books about women in STEM. This will be a short book review because The Echo Wife was a thrilling quick read. I didn't even take that many notes, because most of what I was thinking was, "OMG". I even told my partner all about this book, which I don't normally do, because I was like, "Look, you gotta listen to what happens now!" That's how you know I enjoyed it so much! It's a Science Fiction thriller which makes me think of Orphan Black and Stepford Wives.

Talk about a page turner! As you continue reading, you can't stop! While The Echo Wife is non-stop action, it also, at its core, discusses whether we can change our own programming and behaviors. Gailey allows readers to view both Martine and Evelyn struggling to grow. To change their habits, capabilities, and to grow before our eyes. The line between clone and human was one that Gailey continues to experiment and play with - challenging what we think of as our limitations.

I was so excited to see that Gailey was coming out with a new book so thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This one was different from their other titles, so I was happy that I was getting something that was a harder sci-fi and about clones! I loved the development of the relationship between Evelyn and Martine over the course of the book more than anything else about it, which is good because that was the basis of the story. I cannot imagine what it would be like to see a version of yourself and really digging into your flaws and insecurities while being the one that has to help that other you. The Echo Wife is really well written and complex. It will be an instant hit!

I've seen a number of reviewers compare THE ECHO WIFE to The Stepford Wives, Orphan Black, appropriate for fans of Killing Eve, the Time Traveller's Wife... and they're not *wrong* per se, but I'm not sure they're quite right.
Every time I recommend a Sarah Gailey book, I say that Gailey is at their best when they take an alternative history, or a set of rules that's slightly different than our actual world, and run with it. THE ECHO WIFE is different than everything else Gailey has written - it's not necessarily darker, but there's less sweetness to balance out the truths of Evelyn's relationships; there's less softness to balance out the choices Martine has to make. And I loved it-- Gailey hooked me from the first page, and crafted a world that had just enough science to ground its mystery/horror elements without making me wish I had paid more attention in biology class.
One aspect of Gailey's work that holds true once again in THE ECHO WIFE is the attention to the choices women have and take (or don't have or don't take) -- not necessarily the loud and dazzling choices, but the silences and the shadows in every relationship, in every home. Without spoiling anything, the quiet moments between women were the showstoppers for me, the moments I wanted to see on screen, translated into the twitches and blink-and-you-miss-them movements of the small muscles around the eyes and mouth.
This is going to be a book I re-read, a book I insist all of my friends read and analyze with me. Can't wait until it's released upon the world and I can insist everyone read it!

Thank you to the publisher for providing an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is a tough book for me to rate for a couple of reasons, but for now I think I’m sitting at 3/5 stars.

The good: this book has a unique story and a very distinct voice. This is also something that I found to be true in Magic for Liars, the only other book that I’ve read from this author. Gailey is not afraid to push the envelope with her female characters. Often, I find that I don’t like them very much as a result. The main character--Evelyn--is grating, whipsmart, ruthless, unexpectedly sentimental, and very angry. The way her anger governs her choices is both interesting and catalytic to the story. The author has a strong ability to pick a personality trait and have her characters react faithfully to that trait. In Magic for Liars, the trait was self-pity. In this book, it’s anger. This makes for an uncomfortable read but also a story with propulsive momentum.

This book also deals with some big issues. Westworld meets Stepford Wives is an apt description. The plot went to places that I didn’t expect, and I really enjoyed that.

The mediocre: this is a very character driven story and can feel claustrophobic as a result. You don’t get a great sense of the larger world that these characters are operating in and there are only 4 characters that have any real significance.

The bad: the characters are basically all unlikeable. I grew to respect Evelyn and Martine, the two main female characters, by the end—especially the way they wield power vis a vis each other and allow for a deeper exploration of the others’ psyche. But this is not a story where you really have anyone to root for (except maybe vindictively against the shitty husband).

YMMV, but ultimately I didn’t find this to be a pleasant read. It’s a book I’m still thinking about, but not one I’d revisit.

Huge thank you to Netgalley with providing me with an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book hooked me right from the get go. It was a bit of a slow start but once it gets going it is very fast paced. I loved the way that it was written the MC, Evelyn has a lot of self awareness and her inner thought are very self observant and she's constantly analyzing her own behavior and other's and that was so fascinating for me to read about. Reading about the cloning process was so fascinating to me, at first the scientific jargon went over my head but after a while I came to be enraptured by it. The way this book explained cloning made it sound so plausible and realistic that the events in the story felt so real. I also really enjoyed seeing the development of the relationship between Evelyn and her clone, Martine. It was a very complicated one because Martine was basically herself but also the woman who stole her husband and I loved watching them figure out how to navigate that its a very impossible situation no one would ever expect to have to go through but the way it was handled by the characters was so realistic and well done. I was on the edge of my seat for the entire book there were some small portions that dragged a bit but not for very long and I appreciated that very much. I was expecting more shocking twists I feel like the author could have taken this plot in so many different shocking directions but the "twists" were lackluster which is why I gave this four stars instead of five. I also liked the writing style like I said Evelyn was constantly observing her own behavior and the reasoning behind it along with others and it was also subtly written in a way that made me think Evelyn was recalling these events after they happened which did not really serve any purpose but was still interesting and unique to me as I have not read many books like that. It has been so long since I have read a science fiction and this would definitely satiated a hunger I did not know I have for a good domestic thriller and sci fi hybrid. I would highly recommend this one!