4.5 stars. When you read as much as I do, novelty is precious and rare. And Katie Crouch's novel is novel and precious and rare. I absolutely loved it! First the setting... It's clear that Ms. Crouch has spent some time in this world--both the African setting, and possibly the diplomatic setting. And it's a world that very few of us will ever glimpse in real life. It's different, it's exotic, and she does a terrific job setting the stage.

And then there are her characters. Most of them are flawed, but she presents them with such affection and empathy! You'll be hard-pressed not to view them the same way.

With regard to the plot, I don't think the book's description really emphasizes just how funny this novel is! With the world being the way it is, the one thing I crave is just a reason to smile. and this book gave me many, many reasons to smile, and sometimes laugh out loud. The plot builds up steam and pace as events race towards an inevitable climax.

This was a real pleasure. It was just different from so many books that are a variation on a theme. Highly recommended!

I really enjoyed this title. I always jump at the opportunity to visit other places and and to see a story from a cultural perspective that is new to me. This was sometimes sad, sometimes maddening, but sometimes laugh out loud funny. The cultural clashes between the women in this story were conveyed so well. Add some innocent childhood shenanigans as major turning points in the plot, and I'm in. This one was fun.

I missed the download window on this title, but it's a topic of great interest to me. I look forward to checking this title our from the library or purchasing a copy in the near future.

I appreciate the generosity of authors and publishers in making titles available for readers to review in advance of publication.

I just love when a book is simultaneously sharp and a joy to read: Embassy Wife is one such book.

Set in Namibia, the narrative follows Amanda (who's left a great job in California to follow her husband who's an academic), Persephone (a self-labelled "embassy wife" who spends a lot of time keeping tabs on everyone else), and Mila (an Oshiwambo woman married to the minister of transportation). All three women have children at the same school and form relationships with each other.

I'm not sure if it was the writing, the characters, or the narration, but I flew through this one. It was easy to get into in a moment when I couldn't seem to get into anything. I just couldn't turn away from these characters.

(I also liked the satire of the white savior complex; I'm not sure I'd have enjoyed this one as much without that!)

2.5 stars

This is not a bad book, but I did not enjoy it. I could nitpick several more things than I have mentioned in my critiques below, but I don’t have the patience to expound on them all. This book is decently written, but my main problem with it is that I didn’t enjoy neither the characters nor the storyline.

[What I liked:]

•I learned a bit about Namibia’s history & culture, though that wasn’t the main focus of this book, & there’s only one local Namibian who is an MC.

•The ending is actually pretty good. It wraps up all the major threads, & the outcomes for the MC’s are reasonable (with the big exception of Persephone’s—that was pretty unrealistic, imo 🤦‍♀️ Considering how indiscreet, gullible, & borderline-alcoholic she is 🧐).


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•There is so much racism, classism, sexism, & alcohol abuse in this book; it’s presented so casually that it’s a bit infuriating; & it just permeates the whole book. I did not enjoy that aspect of reading this. At all.

•I liked none of the characters. They’re shallow, self-centered, deceitful, manipulative, passive aggressive, bigoted, in self-denial, & also vaguely miserable while trying to keep up appearances (and often failing at that). When there’s nothing more to a character than vain apathy, & that describes most of the MC’s, it’s exhausting to read about them & it’s hard to engage with them or care about their outcomes.

•I listened to the audiobook, & I wasn’t a fan of the narration. The way Persephone is voiced is grating & her speech is acted out in an OTT manner. Both her’s & Amanda’s “southern” accents are exaggerated to an annoying extent. (The rest of the narration is fine, though. Though I don’t know how accurate or appropriate the imitation of African accents was.)

CW: racism, sexism, degrading sexual language & treatment towards women, infidelity, classism, colonialism, alcohol abuse

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

When Mark tells his wife Amanda that he has won a Fullbright scholarship to go to Namibia to research the 1907 Nama nation genocide by the Germans, (mouthful), Amanda, innocently is on board even if it means abandoning her own career (she is COO no less).

Life in Namibia 🇳🇦 requires a total reset for Amanda, and especially for their 9 year old daughter, Meg, who wants her Annie’s Mac and cheese (among other creature comforts). Meg is registered at the International School, and it is at this school, where both mom and daughter have to work their way into their new lives. Amanda meets Persephone, the wife of the American Ambassador, and then she meets Mila, the wife of the Minister of Transport. Meantime Meg, befriends Mila’s daughter Taimi … Needless to say, antics and adventures ensue … as The NY Times and The Washington Post say … a #romp with #hijinks…

In fact, author Katie Crouch and her husband (and two children) did live in Namibia (her husband had a #fullbright). It was all she could but to write a fictional novel about that experience. Crouch has a great sense of humor, that comes through in the book. But, it is not all fun and games, the book has a serious side too (embassy life, #colonialism, #racism, #corruption).

#Embassywife is my first @katiecrouchwrites book. I am looking forward to her next one (#nobrainer for me now), set in Vermont, called “You are going to Love it Here”. I could just imagine!

Thank you 🙏🏻 @dreamscape_media and #netgalley for the #audiobook of #embassywife in return for my honest review. @theladyhamlet does a wonderful job narrating the book! #5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️or
#5🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏 (#rhinos).

This book is satirical and, I think, that aspect of the story must be understood to appreciate the intricacies of the story that focuses on three women in Namibia. Amanda arrives with her husband, Mark, who is working on a Fullbright project, and their daughter. While she's supportive of her husband, Amanda isn't particularly excited to leave her life and job in Silicon Valley. Once in Namibia, Amanda realizes that his Fullbright might not be the only reason that Mark wants to be in Namibia. Persephone is the wife of an American diplomat and she appears to others as a bit dense or out of touch, but she has a depth that no one realizes.

Sharply observed, crackling with dark humor, and poking fun of Americans who think they know best, this story illuminates how ignorance manifests and warps and affects others. It is light-hearted and operates with an acute level of superficiality that underscores the messaging of the book -- absurd American behavior abroad.

I think, however, that if readers fail to recognize the satirical nature of the story, they may think it tone-deaf or superficial, or disrespectful. That being said, I thought it was well executed and engaging despite some slow points.

This is an interesting story of women in the role of the spouse of the diplomats. A group of women find themselves thrown together by circumstances and become friends in spite of themselves. The story is set in Namibia, a country that I have very little knowledge about. This novel gets three stars for me, not because there is anything wrong with it, but that it just didn't have that "wow" factor that I require to give it something more. The plot was somewhat predictable and moved a bit slowly for me, and it took me longer than usual to get through this audiobook. I definitely wouldn't consider this to be a "mystery/thriller" as Netgalley lists. There were some definite laugh out loud moments, and some more poignant ones as well. The writing was good, and if you enjoy a good story that moves at a slow pace, this is a good read for you. Thank you @netgalley and #dreamscapemedia for an ALC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Huge question for readers - is this:
1. "a deeply human story won with grace and elegance"
2. "a devilishly au courant satire that skewers white privilege and colonialism"
3. "a riveting drama and painful truths (that) powerfully illustrates the devastation of abuse"
4. "rich in local color and comic material"

Well, your guess is as good as mine. Truth is, it is all of the above. The Three Stoogies could not have done Africa better.

Amanda finds herself in a dilemma when she leaves a lucrative job in Silicone Valley to becomes a "trailing spouse" and follows her deeply flawed husband into a pseudo-job with the US Embassy in Namibia. Thus ensues hilarity, but all is not so light hearted. These Housewives of the Sub-Sahara find themselves trying to save a rhino from poachers, while engaging in a white wine bitch-fest.

It is well worth the read as long as you keep your antennae tuned to the undertones of seriousness. This wasn't a narrator I had heard before but I enjoyed Marni Penning and would listen to her again.

I loved this book and haven’t heard enough about it. What a cast of characters! The setting was unique and gave an interesting perspective on a life that most of us can’t imagine. I was engrossed throughout by what was happening, and the suspense of how it was all going to come together kept me listening long after I should have been sleeping.
Loved the narrator and I look forward to more from this author.

I was excited to get into this book about the life of American women living abroad and experiencing other cultures. Unfortunately this felt more like a new annoying version of “desperate housewives” Endless drama surrounding by failing marriages and the politics of planning school events. Seeing these unlikeable white women bring their drama to Namibia was cringe worthy and the only saving grace was seeing them all finally get their dues.

Just not my style but good for a dramatic, catty weekend read if your looking for one.

Embassy Wife by Katie Crouch is an amazing book brought to life as an audiobook. This story follows families who are in Nambia working for the US State Department. While living abroad can be fun it’s full of politics and the problems of home seem to multiple faster than a cheetah. It’s The Devil Wears Prada meets Covert Affairs and makes for excellent listening! What are you doing still reading this go download a copy and get to it!

I really enjoyed this tale with two expat and one Namibian at its center. It was mostly light and fun, with just enough depth paid to the reality of race and in expat life to keep it interesting. I listened to the audio of this one, which was overall good, though the accept the narrator gives to Amanda, the main character, really distracted me (think Cate Blanchett in Benjamin Button).

Our main characters are Persephone - a "career" Embassy Wife, striving to be the best support to her State Department husband she can be, Amanda - a recently transplanted trailer spouse following her husband, Mark - Amanda's husband, and Mila - a Namibian wife with a child in the international school.

The plot seamlessly wove between the main characters, bringing in their pasts and presents.

I most enjoyed the inside look into embassy/expat life (deference to the Ambassador, international school politics, rules for trailing spouses) - all presented with snarky humor with nods the Trump administration setting.

Honestly this was just not for me. I think this book was in poor taste, a bunch of rich white women in Africa and tons of drama.

Another book I was drawn to because of the cover that I ended up really enjoying. This satirical novel follows the lives of various embassy adjacent people in Namibia - namely two trailers (spouses of government workers who follow their spouse from country to country) and the wife of a Namibian minister.

It’s similar to a lot of contemporary women’s fiction, lots of drama surrounding lackluster marriages and the politics of planning school events, but the setting of Namibia gives it a unique take.

The characters are all somewhat unlikeable, but their bad judgement is entertaining and ultimately everyone gets their due. Maybe it's just because I was watching it at the same time I was reading this, but Embassy Wife gives me a lot of White Lotus vibes, i.e. oblivious white people bringing their bullshit to a foreign country. But fun.

The author uses her first-hand experiences of living in Namibia to craft this wonderful novel, where two American "trailers" (partners who accompany their spouses to diplomatic posts) come to love their new home, despite not receiving the warmest welcome. They have personal upheavals to overcome, and the story of a native wife of Minister of Transportation serves to propel the action. I found myself looking up images of Windhoek, the capital, and the mind-blowing desert where the sand meets the ocean. So in addition to the excellent story and well-drawn characters, Crouch has awoken my interest in the history of this fascinating place.

Note: Some may not appreciate the political aspect of the author's note.

Thanks to Dreamscape (via NetGalley) for a chance to listen early to this audiobook - publication date August 1, 2021.
I really enjoyed this one (4 stars on Goodreads). The setting , physically Namibia, psychically the World of US Embassy/ State Department life was unique and drew me to this one. The cover is pretty smashing too!
I powered quickly thru 14 hours of listening time .
The story follows 3 women associated with the US Embassy in Namibia/ International school in Namibia. It often felt like a comical farce but the twists and fast pace kept me going eagerly. The ending was satisfying and left me hoping for a sequel with these zany characters.
The characters themselves seemed like types more than people one might like , the only one I felt any real connection with was Amanda. I suppose readers might find their own “person” amongst the characters. The males in the story were particularly unlikeable but then I think this is women’s fiction !
This book was particularly good on audio, the narrator was excellent and the dialogue sharp and clever. I particularly enjoyed the digs at the previous administration and State Department take on them. I also enjoyed learning about Namibia. I look forward to a TV series, seems made for one!

Such an interesting story told from several perspectives.

Amanda Evans has given up her job, home, and lifestyle, to relocate with her family to Namibia after her husband accepts a Fulbright grant for research. The adjustment is hard and unwelcome, as far as Amanda is concerned.

Persephone Wilder is THE Embassy Wife. She has it all figured out; how to dress, how to engage in conversations, who is who and what is what. She's got it covered, and she looks great doing it. Persephone takes Amanda under her wing to inaugurate her as an official "Trailer" spouce. (Defined as the one who does the import job of following their embassy employed spouse from post to post and keeping the house and children in check.)

Amanda rejects this idea. Coming from a career in Silicon Valley just a few weeks before, being a house wife is unappealing and boring. Or so she first thinks.

It's not long before Amanda, Persephone and a few other characters, are entangled in situations they could have never dreamed of before. Namibia might be a red desert, but it's lush with secrets, lies and betrayal.

Such an enjoyable book. I loved the audio book which was wonderfully narrated. I went through this book quickly and have been telling all my reader friends to watch out for it.

I received an audio copy of Embassy Wife byKatieCrouch from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a fun book. The narrator is wonderful. She gives each chapter a distinct personality. The setting is Namibia. Amanda Evans and Persephone Wilder befriend each other. Persephone is the highlight of the book. She is the funniest chapter I’ve read in a long time. I hope the author writes more where Persephone is a character.

Embassy Wife is an excellent story with a colorful backdrop but it’s all about the wonderful characters.

What a great reading journey this book was. With Amanda and Persephone as the two main characters of this novel, we dive into their lives as wives in Namibia, Africa. They both followed their husbands to this new land, and gave up their own lives to do so. Amanda, with a shattered family life as a child, is clinging to save her failing marriage to Mark and family life. Will she be able to or will she leave her husband? I won't spoil it for anyone. Then there is Persephone who has followed her diplomat husband everywhere he goes. These husbands have secrets and plenty of them. There are a few other characters throughout the book, including Mila whose daughter has a fight with Amanda's daughter. I would give this book four stars, because it kept my attention and kept me wanting to find out more about the story.I received the audio version, and it was sheer perfection. The narrator was great and the story was very easy to follow along with.