This book was a lovely read and I enjoyed it for numerous days. I really can't recommend it enough to readers who enjoy Beth O'Leary books too.
The story is about 2 women who are having issues at home, since one of the (Polly) has a huge B&B they all decide to move in together, kids in tow. Will all their problems be solved? Will everyone take part? Will their friendship survive when they can't escape each others company?
I adored the brilliant humour that was injected throughout this book, but it also highlighted some real-life issues such as depression and anxiety.
Each 'wife' has a completely different marital situation, Erica was juggling her career with her daughter and her husband who spent 90% of his time overseas didn't intend on doing anything to help; Louise felt her marriage was fine until her husband, Nick suggests moving into Polly's B&B is the best option for their difficult situation. and then there's Polly , who's husband has passed away and she is left with this large house and no one bu there children to fill it, moving in her two best friends seems like a good option, although we don't really know much about Polly's story until the latter part of the book. I also think that Polly's character has an air of mystery which automatically draws you into her particular story.
To summarise, with an unexpected ending, lots of laughs and moments where tensions are running high; Wife Support System is a fabulous book which you need to read immediately! I also couldn't believe this was a debut novel for Kathleen Whyman. She reminded me so much of some of my favourite authors work and she is definitely on my must read list for any future novels. Thanks so much to netgalley and Hera books for the advanced readers copy.

When three stressed mums decide to solve their problems by sharing a house and childcare for a month, what can possibly go wrong? One is so wrapped up in work she hardly ever sees her daughter, one is so organised with safety checks and domestic rotas she drives everyone (even her own husband) up the wall, and one has panic attacks and is hiding her scars as well as her secrets. Each of them changes as the story progresses, discovering things about themselves and making much-needed life-changing decisions. They all, in different ways, find love. I enjoyed the book, and the way alternating chapters are written from the three different points of view, although the structure changes in the final few pages which try to merge their three stories/voices in combined chapters and tie it all up in an epilogue that didn't quite work for me.

This was an engrossing story of three women at different stages of relationship/marriage no are finding life’s constant juggling act difficult to manage due to lack of support structures. They decide to share a large Somewhat dilapidated house and pool resources, new and childcare.
Of course, personalities, money differences, parenting styles, housework duties, and a mix of children’s personalities all conspire to hinder the perfect plan. For anyone who has been exasperated with their lot trying to manage too much, this addresses those difficulties.
An enjoyable read with a realistic premise which develops characters and scenarios well.
If you on reading this during stressful lockdown, or have ever holidayed with another family, you are bound to identify with or recognise the difficulties faced by these three women.
Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication in exchange for an honest review

💥💥💥💥Can’t believe you’ve dealt with all this on your own. You should have told us. How do you carry on day to day?’💥💥💥💥
Such strong lines with a great insight!, that every one(especially woman) needs to hear occassionally....
❤️❤️❤️
Erica, Polly and Louise are busy moms, who decides to move in together to Polly's enormous house, -with five kids-for sharing childcare and household works, for easy management of professional and personal life. Its the perfect world for them in the beginning, but issues starts to rise up eventually. How their friendship helps them balance their life, in all the hurry-burry things around them is what constitutes the story.
Everyone's concepts of perfect motherhood comes as a hindrance to them.
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It took a while for me to catch the pace, but once I was on it, I really enjoyed the book. Author presents all troubles faced by a modern 'working mother' -at workplace and at home. Woman are not shown as struggling without men, but trying to manage by themselves, with all their physical and mental power. Common real life situations are blended with humorous elements, which makes the flow of the story more interesting.
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Ultimately the book makes us realise that life is not a roller coaster ride for anyone-neither to people seemingly happy from outside nor to those with full luxury.And that, no one is ever perfect in whatever they do and it doesnt matter at all.What matters is, we get to live with small moments of smile, every single day.
***thanks to Netgalley for providing the book for a review before its publication***

Polly, Louise, and Erica are three moms who struggle with the challenges of parenthood, career, and relationships. Polly has a big house and is a stay at home mom who wants adult company. Louise and Erica are career women who need childcare, and a change of scenery. So the three of them join forces, living together with their children, and living back at their homes on the weekend. What ensues is not anywhere near the idyllic situation they each anticipated.

I couldn’t wait to read this book, especially because a few mom friends and I have often dreamt of the same sort of scenario, thinking it would be a way of having our cake and eating it too. Reading this book, I could instantly see the problems just such a situation could present. The miscommunications, the sometimes selfish behavior, the grittiness that comes with being a human, this wasn’t an easy ride, I saw facets of women that I didn’t want to believe exist, but know that I’ve struggled with myself. I really enjoyed that while the support system is flawed, the characters each learn from their mistakes and try to correct them.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked that each woman was flawed in a way that was almost painful to read. Wife Support System will make me think and reflect on my own relationships for a long time, and in the end, that is what I want from a book.

I received an advance copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was drawn to the concept of female communal living. So many domestic burdens still exist for women and I have recently become aware of house-sharing for single women; the concept involving married women in this book intrigued me.
The unfolding of the domestic arrangement as the characters settled in to their roles held my attention until about the halfway point in the book. At that point it was just reading female roommate-drama, with some typical marital woes and “chick-lit” extraneous budding flirtations on the side.
I had a difficult time with the writing at points, finding many cliched metaphors/similes.
I thank Net-Galley for the opportunity to read Wife Support System, but it reminds me that women’s fiction is not my favorite genre.

What a great debut book!
The title of the book drew me in, so glad I read it and thoroughly enjoyed!
Three women and their assorted children moving in together,three very different women each having a different agenda on what the house share will provide! Leaving behind their husbands/partners Erica and Louise plus children move in with quiet timid polly! Female solidarity, friendship and fun!The wife support system provides childcare, help with chores, company, friendship and humour! Lives and relationships are changed/altered for ever following the houseshare positivity,hope and second chances await the three women leading to them having a better work life balance,more meaningful loving relationships and a better handle of the trials and tribulations of motherhood! A must read for any mum juggling childcare, career, chores and relationships!
Thank you net galley for this early read!

• I’ve received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a review •

I like the development of the character from the beginning of the book to its end.
The writing was good, it can surely grow to be better in the future.
I think that the book had a good premise, but it simply wasn’t for me.
Also great choice for the ending!

I did not enjoy this book at all. Poor dialogue, undeveloped characters and a mediocre storyline made it very difficult to finish.

Loved it!! Every woman needs this book in her life. It’s just a great feel good story that takes you away from real life for a bit.

Three ‘wives’ in need of childcare help that aren’t getting it from their significant others find one another and agree on a month month stay at mom Polly’s old B&B where there is plenty of space for all of them and the kids.
They divide chores, childcare responsibilities, meal preparation, etc and it works more or less. The dynamic between the woman is humorous at times, and quite dramatic at others. Each going through a bit of a crisis, not willing to share with the others how deep emotionally each has gone.
The journey each woman takes by the end of the book is remarkable when you felt it would be a more humor filled book.

The concept of this book was interesting as any mother can attest to trying to do it all without a lot of support from her partner. The three protagonists of the book did hide behind a facade of lies whether it be age (Erica), her past (Polly), or why she needed complete control (Louise). Only when they got real within themselves and each other did they actually become happier people. They placed value in their friendship as well as their relationship with their children. I also enjoyed the update of the later months at the end of the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hera Books for the arc of Wife Support System by Kathleen Whyman.


This follows 3 casual friends whom all have kids who then realise in which they actually need help that Erica is very proud of whom has a exciting career. Her husband who travels around for his work and with her h=job so she really needs and depends on a nanny to help out but the nanny ends up leaving so rapidly but why? Louise is the other friend in whom also has an interesting job, aswell as a lovely husband. But there isnt a connection anymore on the homefront... Then there is Polly whom is very shy and timid and even scared. But then Her husband died and she has a lot on her plate to cope and deal with. But Polly lives in a rundown state of a Bed and breakfast and then the three women decide that they will all end up moving in together and share their housekeeping and childcaring duties together with the three of them so they all are helping out and doing there bit...

4 stars

Gripping unique and new style of story for me

The lives of these three fascinating complex women and their everyday day drama and struggles of trying to keep all the various balls up in the air, is a story most moms can relate to. Kathleen Whyman brought this story together with wit, love, heartbreak and the sweet love of children.
I am that mom and wife that could have used a Wife Support System when my girls were growing up.

Three wives and five kids, all from different backgrounds and living together under the same roof, for the first time?

This was bound to be a delightful disaster so I knew this book was a must-read. What caught my attention was the book description, I had to know what happened.

I love the character development of this book because we see how each character grows because of the experiences they share with one another. The author uses multiple POV, this provides insights into every character’s thoughts. This also helps the reader understand each character’s action, we walk in their shoes.

You’re going to hate the actions of the characters sometimes, then you forgive them and go back to loving them.

This book explores a lot of themes, like friendship, love, relationships, marriage, motherhood, self-esteem, bullying etc. It also talks about domestic violence and life after DV.

There were some unexpected twist that I didn’t see coming even if the writer left some hints. Brilliant!

Overall I think the purpose of the book was fulfilled because it questions the essence of friendship. If you are 100% certain that you have a firm grasp of this thing called friendship, you might want to read this book for some revaluation.

Another insight I got from this book is that you don’t have to be perfect to be a good mother, It’s actually not possible to be perfect at motherhood, sometimes you need an extra glass of wine or maybe a really deep breathe, It’s all fine. No one is perfect at this.

Perfection isn’t what makes you a good mother.

There is also a healthy place for vulnerability in every relationship, you have to know when to accept help and when to let others in.

http://www.oliviasose.com/wife-support-system-book-review/

Really good read. Would recommend to friends and family. I could sympathise with characters (important for any fiction novel!) and looked forward to picking it up and reading the next few chapters! Interesting plot line and a good ending. Will look out for more novels by the author. Thank you.

Did not finish, not for me. The first chapter was rather uninviting, but I managed to keep reading until 30%. But by then I still hadn't warmed to Erica and Louise, and wasn't that interested in the rest of the story...