Leah, a convert to orthodox Judaism, begins her married life in an insular Brooklyn neighborhood, and learns that it’s not that easy to live that kind of life. She takes a big risk (and pulls in the rest of the family with her) when her teen stepdaughter briefly rebels, then suffers trauma after a forbidden relationship. Turns out this book is a sequel to An Unorthodox Match, which I had not read – but the story is well told enough that I didn’t need to. (Netgalley review; book releases in September)

I loved this book. It is preceded by An Unorthodox Match which was also wonderful! Even if you aren’t Jewish, they both were beautiful stories. I have loved all of Naomi Ragen’s books. The main story is about a Jewish woman who chooses to become Orthodox. She has a very rough time of it in Boro Park, New York. Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, for allowing me an early arc in exchange for my honest opinion s!

Leah’s prayers have been answered. She is married to Yaakov, a man she loves, and whose children warmly accept her as their stepmother. All is good. However, the life of an orthodox Jewish woman is very different from her former life; it makes religious and cultural demands that challenge her. Not having been raised in the community, she has few friends and is criticized heavily. She seems to be surrounded by a group of cruel hypocrites. In addition, her husband’s unhappiness at work and Shaindele, their teenage daughter’s, acts of rebellion have led to confusion and struggle. The wisdom of elders seems to provide support along with the abiding love and loyalty she feels for her family. When Shaindele meets a corrupt counselor whose inappropriate actions place Yaakov and Leah in conflict with powerful people, their marriage is in jeopardy along with the well-being of their beloved child. Naomi Ragen offers the story of the outcast who has abandoned her independent life to join a strict, unfriendly society to teach us about coping and seeking help to repair broken relationships. I find this enlightening and an opportunity to understand an unfamiliar world.

Naomi Ragen’s sequel to “An Unorthodox Match” delves further into life in the insular Boro Park, NY. How the Hassids rule everything from businesses to family to politics and how what was once God’s commandments to live a pure life has turned into anything but. You will fall in love with Leah, Yaacov, and their children and cheer the elder Rabbi as he tries to right the wrongs in his community. Filled with wonderful side stories and Yiddish phrases, this book is a quick and enjoyable read,

I loved how this author pointed out the absurdity’s in the culture and how it could also be a warm, kind community if effective leadership is in place. This book is a continuation of her prior book. The characters are well developed and interesting. We learn about the ultra orthodox Jewish community in New York, but hang in there, it gets much better as the setting moves a bit south. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I received a complimentary copy of An Observant Wife from NetGalley.  Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Wow! Frightening and beautiful: Another eye-opening novel from Naomi Ragen. Thef endearing love story of Leah and Yaakov continues, but not without interference and unspeakable trials from forces outside their household. Though this novel was a bit darker than the first, addressing some tough issues, it is still a shining beacon of hope for all humanity and I couldn’t put it down. I have the deepest respect for anyone willing to go to such extremes to convert and follow his or her beliefs and faith.

So I didn’t realize that a book I read awhile back had a sequel ! Here it is! This one picks off where Leah & Yakov left off in book 1. It follows their new life together with the kids. Life for Leah is not what she expected and Yakov not only has to help her navigate but he must come to terms with the truth about his community

I was so excited when I learned that I would get to read this book early, courtesy of St. Martin's Press and Netgalley, because I have been a long-time fan of Naomi Ragen since reading her book, The Ghost of Hannah Mendes. I've since read several of her books and was excited about this one. This book did not disappoint, giving the reader a peak into a life that many don't know much about. The characters in this book were so likeable, with Leah being a wonderful, protective mother to her new stepchildren. The story is not only one of a woman trying to find acceptance in a world that she is not readily welcomed in but also one of a young mother trying to grapple with the unthinkable happening to her step-daughter. I think readers will appreciate the chance to learn more about a life that some people choose and some others are born into.

I have always loved Naomi Ragen books. So when offered an ARC by Netgalley I jumped at the chance. Her writing is so compassionate and she makes you feel you are part of the story. This one again covered Orthodoxy and the complexity of living an observant life.

We follow Leah and Yakov, their marriage, their children and the choices they make. Some choices lead them to have life changing consequences for their children and themselves. A great page turner and look into Orthodoxy life. #fivestars #netgalley

I'm usually skeptical of sequels, but Naomi Ragen has given her readers an outstanding follow-up to An Unorthodox Match, the story of California girl Leah who falls for ultra-orthodox Jewish widower Yaakov in New York's Boro Park and ultimately marries him, becoming part of a new highly insular way of life. While I wondered at the outset how this novel could keep me engaged with the age old story of an outsider trying to build a life within a culture that was new to her, all for the sake of love, this story did just that - keeping me turning pages as the stories behind the Boro Park women and men peeled back in shrouded layers of toxic behavior of self-preservation, judgement and scandal. Without giving too much away, suffice it to say this is a worthy follow-up with twists and turns and an ending readers will love. Thanks to Net Galley and St Martin's Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

An Observant Wife by Naomi Ragen is the continuation of the story of Leah and Yaakov, a young couple living in Boro Park, Brooklyn in a devout Jewish community. Leah came from outside of the Jewish community, but studied and accepted all of the restrictions imposed on women in that life, although internally she chafed against some of the more stringent ones. Yaakov, a scholar, married Leah because he truly fell in love with her, after his first wife committed suicide as a result of her postnatal depression after the birth of their fifth child. Her suicide was kept quiet in this devout community, as suicide was not accepted.

The novel follows Leah and Yaakov's marriage as they work together to raise the 5 children from his first marriage and the struggles they encounter as the oldest daughter rebels, the grandmother searches for new love within the community, Yaakov struggles with his new job in the real world, and Leah finds it harder and harder to justify living with the restrictions set for her by tradition. Will this marriage survive the stresses the community places on it?

An Observant Wife is a beautifully written novel that provides a window into a community that most people know little about. It is written with love for the traditions that bond the community and a young woman's efforts to be a part of that community. It also shows the negatives of that type of community as well, how they can come together to shun, to hide evil and to spread gossip. A wonderful novel of real life situations and how to work to find out what is important to make a family work.

Thank you to the author, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

An Observant Wife by Naomi Ragen is an excellent fiction follow up to the equally stunning An Unorthodox Match. Both books are truly wonderful and I highly recommend this duo. I can only hope that there will be another installment in the future.

I was beyond impressed with the memorable story of Leah and Yaakov in An Unorthodox Match and so was beyond thrilled to be able to have the opportunity to see what happened with their marriage, blended family, and the community in this next book. Here we get to see in detail the marriage, the immediate emotions, insecurities, feelings, and foreign waters that each member swam into with this new situation. Toss in a few obstacles, twists, turns, surprises (definitely didn’t see some of that coming!), and thankfully positive outcomes, and this narrative really ends up being a home run.

I really enjoyed everything about this book, and continue to be a huge fan of Ms. Ragen. I highly recommend this novel and it will most definitely be one of my favorites this year.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and St. Martin’s Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.

An Observant Wife is technically a sequel to Naomi Ragen’s earlier book, An Unorthodox Match, but it definitely stands on its own as the story of the married life of a previously secular Jewish woman who enters the world of the ultra-Orthodox.

This book, while fiction, is one of many in the sub-genre of “Insight Into The Lives of Insular Religions.” There have been many books (and a Netflix series) about people, generally women, who escape the very restrictive practices of ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities, but this one has a different twist that I will not reveal because it is a spoiler.

Suffice it to say that this book exposes even more of what is hidden behind the “virtual” walls of the Boro Park (Brooklyn) haredi Orthodox community. Although on the surface the lives of the members of this community are bound by the Torah and the rules later set out in the Talmud and the Shulchan Aruch (Table of Laws), there is so much rumor and gossip, speaking ill of others (lashon hara), and questionable moral and ethical behavior (including rampant child abuse) that Moses himself would be shocked.

Frankly, the behavior of the members of this community is no different than any other community - religious, secular, political - but given the rather pompous and judgmental behavior of a lot of the characters in this story, it’s a terrible shandah (horrible thing) that the members of this community hold themselves above all others.

I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley.

This is a sequel to Unorthodox Match. An observant Wife is a wonderful book about Leah who was settling into married life with Jacob and his five children. The two older boys are away studying in Baltimore so its mainly about Shaindele, Chasya and Mordechai . Leah was tested a lot throughout her married life with the Ultra Orthodox community, and early on from Shaindele. Leah had never been a religious person so she had to study and learn all the customs, laws, and rules. She loves Jacobs children and very much wanted children of her own which wasn't happening fast enough and that along with separation during her monthly, created frustration for Leah. It was so interesting to !earn about their lives, customs, and the consequences that happen when rules are broken within the community.

I received this book from NetGalley free and I'm giving my honest review on my own. I was very happy to have the opportunity to read this book. I highly recommend this and can't wait to read more books from Naomi Raven.

I have read all of Naomi Ragen’s books. This one did not disappoint. It was a great follow up book that tied up all the loose ends. Great characters, great storyline, and I felt very satisfied at the end. Thank you for my advanced copy. I will continue to recommend this author to my friends.

When I received word that I was approved by NetGalley to read An Observant Wife, which is a sequel to An Unorthodox Match, I immediately read that first book (which I loved). I was so excited to read this book, and I wasn’t disappointed. It is easily a five-star read.

It’s the continuing story of newly married Leah and Yaakov. Leah is a returning Jew (from the secular world), and Yaakov is ultra Orthodox. The saga resumes with Leah still trying to gain acceptance into her ‘new’ world and not getting it. Their beautiful love for each other carries them through the many crises that arise in the book. The ending is terrific and allows the possibility of another sequel.

Well described are the endless rules, some of them Biblical, some of them manmade, of this Orthodox Jewish faith. Dirty, dirty politics among this sect in Boro Park, Brooklyn are exposed. I wonder to myself, how much of this is fiction and how much is real life. The author is profoundly inspired to add the beauty of Bible quotations to her story.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review An Observant Wife. I enjoyed it immensely and would give it many more than five stars if I could.

I've always been a big fan of Naomi Ragen and was very excited to read this book. It did not disappoint. An Observant Wife is a sequel to An Unorthodox Match though could conceivably stand on its own.

Leah has married Yaakov and is expecting a happily ever after life. However, she has not reckoned on being judged so heavily by others in her Haredi community, who seem to be just waiting for her, a formerly secular Jew, to fail. Ragen delves into some contemporary issues and failings of this community and in some ways it starts to feel like an exposé. The ending is very satisfactory, though, and leaves the reader wondering (and hoping) for yet a third tale about this wonderful family.

A few side stories are also charming and show the power and wisdom of some of the older members of the community.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.

An Observant Wife by Naomi Regan
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I have read the author’s previous book, An Unorthodox Match, loved it and was looking forward to this sequel. I was definitely not disappointed. The book opens with Leah’s and Yakov’s wedding and it deals with their first year of marriage. Yakov is a Torah scholar, a widow with 5 children. Leah is a formerly secular Jew who studied and embraced the Orthodox Jewish lifestyle. Any marriage has its ups and downs in the first year, but this couple has to deal with more than usual. Leah is not well accepted into the community, Yakov has to work for the first time in his life to earn a living. Two small children and a questioning rebellious teenage daughter do not make their life very easy.
I couldn’t put this book down, I stayed up most of the night to finish more than half of the novel. It is very well written, the characters are well developed. I cheered and cried with Leah and Shaindele. There are very serious issues addressed beyond the marriage of Yakov and Leah. Without giving anything away, I liked the end, it was very realistic.
I am Jewish, so I knew many of the Yiddish and Hebrew sayings, but far from all. Reading an e book, it is not easy to go back and forth to the glossary. I think using less of the Yiddish and Hebrew or explanation in parentheses would make this book more welcome to an extended audience.
5 stars for sure, and I do not often rate 5 stars.
Thanks NetGalley, Martin Press and Naomi Regan for the advanced copy

Naomi Ragen knocked it out of the park again. Reading it I could picture the insular Boro Park community and all it’s ins and outs. This book was graciously provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Definitely pick this book up !

I received this ARC from the author and St. Martin’s Press for an honest review . This is another outstanding novel by Naomi Ragan.. An Observant Wife “ is the sequel to “An Unorthodox Match” where we follow Leah, a recently observant Jew from California (Baal teshuva) when she marries Yaakov, an ultra orthodox widower with five motherless children. The story delves into some disturbing issues and incidents that are found in many untra religious sects and cults. Naomi Ragan deals with Lashon Harah “ or gossip, sexual abuse, piety, conformity and many other topics that affect religious followers. Leah tries to conform to be a good wife and mother to her stepchildren . She speaks up when others in her Boro Park, NY neighborhood just accept everything the Rav tells them. This wonderful story is an eye opener into the lives of these frum or religious people. There is a Yiddish dictionary at the end to help explain many of the words and terms that are used through out the book.