Another great book by Hepworth! This one centers on a family whose patriarch is getting married to a much younger woman, while his dementia-ridden wife is still alive. Stephen begins a whirlwind relationship with Heather, much to the chagrin of his 2 daughters, Rachel and Tully, who are about the same age. The POV alternates between the 3 women as they navigate not only the family dynamics, but other events in each of their lives.

The story is fast paced and engaging even in the areas where the action is low. All 3 women seem real, and I found myself empathizing with each of them at various points in the story, even when they were making bad decisions. The ending does not really tie up the loose ends, but leaves the reader with some remaining questions, which I actually enjoyed, though I have seen other reviewers with different opinions. I am ruminating about it as I write this!

All in all, this is a great story and a fast read, with engaging characters and interesting storylines. I recommend it to those who like domestic suspense. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

While I enjoyed "The Younger Wife" by Sally Hepworth I think I would have appreciated it more if it had been marketed to readers as a domestic drama rather than as a domestic suspense.


One thing that Ms. Hepworth excels at is building rich and dynamic characters whose stories really draw the reader in. In the case of this novel, it is so character- driven that the actual plot becomes secondary.

In "The Younger Wife" we are introduced to sisters Tully and Rachel as well as Heather who is to be their new and very young stepmother. It is fascinating to read about how they deal with the shifting family dynamic brought on by the impending marriage between Heather and the women's father.

As Tully, Rachel, and Heather are forced to interact with each other it becomes painfully obvious that they are all harboring their own self destructive secrects. As Hepworth reveals those secrets layer by layer, the reader is gifted with a comprehensive understanding of each woman and what truly drives them.

One thing I find refreshing about this book is that Heather does not fit into the femme fatale role that is often commonplace in stories like these. In contrast, she is a kind and decent person. As a matter of fact, she as well as the rest of the characters are written in a way that evokes a myriad of feelings from the reader. This is where Hepworth's mastery comes into play. The plot may be a bit thin but the author more than makes up for it with strong and interesting characters.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book. Thank you Netgalley for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you St Martins Press and Netgalley for an ARC of The Younger Wife in exchange for my honest opinion.

I will begin with saying this is my first Sally Hepworth book and that I found it fantastic. A real page turner. A book with so many secrets, jaw dropping moments, and twists and turns.

When Rachel and Tully find out that their father is marrying someone their age, they are not very happy. Especially given that he is still married to their mother, whom they have just recently moved into a nursing home. With secrets of their own, their lives begin to unravel.

I enjoyed this book very much and will definitely read more by Sally Hemsworth.

Stephen Aston is marrying Heather against the wishes of his two grown children of almost the same age, but, first, he has to divorce his wife, who’s in a memory-care facility for dementia with only short bouts of mindful recollection. This thriller digs into the backstories of each character, except Stephen, with the question of abuse being brought to the forefront but without evidence. It’s up to the reader to pay close attention and figure out who is the least unreliable narrator in a tale with twists and turns. Well-written, I kept reading and questioning motives throughout (especially about the money found in the bottle). I recommend this as an entertaining read with no easy answers!

The Younger Wife - Sally Hepworth
Rachel and Tully' father Stephen is getting married, to a younger woman, so young in fact that she's the same age as Rachel, the youngest of the two daughters.
This couldn't come at a worst time. Their mother is in a care facility and doesn't know who they are. Tully is fighting her kleptomania and Rachel is struggling with her secret she has hidden from everyone since she was a teenager.
The girls visit their mother in a regular basis and as they do, their mother regularly mentions their father was a bad man, a side of him they never saw. When Rachel finds a stash of money in her mother's stuff with Tully and another woman's name on it, the girls' theories begin to form. Was their mother saving money to leave their dad? Was he really abusive? Has his new young fiance had experienced this? Who is this other woman on the note with the money and how is she connected?
I just have to say wow, this book is not what I had expected, and I mean that in the best way. I don't want to give too much away, but the expectations I had set based on the title ended up being completely wrong. I loved all the characters and their individual stories and experiences and loved how the "younger wife" got pulled into the family drama. If you're looking for a dysfunctional family thriller, with a twist, than this is a book to grab when it hits the shelves on October 26th!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Thank you Netgalley for the amazing ARC!

Well, Sally Hepworth has done it again. I loved The Mother-In-Law and I think this book is just as good. I couldn't put it down. Very clever story and real characters that I could actually picture. Great writing, would definitely recommend! The Younger Wife

Sally Hepworth really knows how to tell a story. We start out with an unknown narrator at the wedding of two of the main characters, Heather & David. We are introduced to David's daughters, Tully & Rachel and his ex-wife and current dementia patient Pam who he divorced to marry Heather, a woman within the same age range as his daughters. As with many of Hepworth's books all of the characters are a little flawed and this family is no exception. Tully is a mother of two who has a side habit of shoplifting. Rachel bakes cakes and other desserts for a living and does not date. There is a hot water bottle in their mother's things with almost one hundred thousand dollars in it but they can't find out what it was for or where it came from. Someone is leaving the wedding in an ambulance but none of the guests find out who until the very end. I think The Good Sister is safely ensconced as my all time favorite Sally book, but this one kept me interested and trying to figure out just what the heck is going on.

Wow. This the first book I’ve read by this author, and I’m stunned. The ending is definitely not what I expected. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with two twists at the end! Time to go read another Sally Hepworth book!

I received an advanced readers copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I love Sally Hepworth. Her stories draw you in and keep you captivated. This story was no different. The three women were so interesting. All three of these women were working through problems and truly started to heal as they learned to work together. There is so much wonderful about this book. I have to say that usually when I finish a book, I feel at ease even if I didn't really love the ending. This ending has left me agitated. I feel like I am still missing a little bit. But it has kept me thinking of the this book and it characters long after the story has ended. So good job Sally!!


Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for an early copy of The Younger Wife. I was sooooo excited for this new book by Sally Hepworth because her last book is one of my Top 2 Books ever Read, The Good Sister. This was a very good read, not a psychological at all but more of family drama. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and wondering "Hmmmm is it true or not?". The ending was unexpected and concludes the novel in a way that makes you realize, you never really know the truth about people.

Wasn't in the mood to read anymore since I got into a slump but when I opened my kindle this book popped up and I decided I would give it a shot and I'm so glad I did. Started to read and I couldn't put down you can very easily put yourself into the story. Fast pace and easy to read. The women have all the issues and the men are just there for dressing.

Rachel and Tully’s dad, Stephen, is engaged to Heather although his wife is still alive and suffering with dementia. Heather is younger than Rachel and Tully who assume Heather is a gold digger. But is she? All of them have issues and secrets, major secrets. Stephen appears to be controlling and Heather begins to doubt that he is a good man. But who is telling the truth and what is the truth? This was a gripping and chilling story about family relationships and trust. I loved it!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Younger Woman is a family drama about the relationship between a successful doctor and his new, younger girlfriend. Their engagement and impending nuptials bring about serious family drama and dark, hidden secrets that lead to a bloody and startling conclusion.
The Aston family has issues.

Tully and her husband are about to lose their home due to a bad investment. Tully also has a shameful secret.

Her sister, Rachel, is obsessed with cooking/baking, and hasn’t dated anyone since she was 16...almost 20 years ago. Nobody stops to think there could be a reason for it.

Tully and Rachel’s father, Stephen, is about to get married to a woman named Heather. The only problem is, he’s already married to their mother, Pam. However she has dementia and he plans on divorcing her.

As for Heather, she’s younger than both Tully and Rachel, but is going to marry their father. Heather has a dark past, and she wants to keep it hidden.

Not everyone will make it past Stephen and Heather’s wedding unscathed. You do not know who to feel sorry for and certainly do not know who is telling the truth or even remembers what the truth is. I was confused by all the vague misguidance or information that maybe wasn't a lie??? Sound confusing?? Wait until you read this!! It is worth the confusion for that last twist I'm still duped by the chicanery.

Thank you for the ARC. Don’t know how to review this without giving anything away, but couldn’t put it down.

Another good read by Sally Hepworth. Tully and Rachel=WOW. This was a wonderful book and I'm thankful I was granted an ARC of it.

I do love a dysfunctional family drama story that has all the members giving their own skewed narratives. After all of the secrets, confessions, and mistrust are spoken, one of them is leaving a wedding in an ambulance. A quick read filled with drama.

A little bit of a psychological thriller as are all of Sally Hepworth's book that I can remember. Maybe a little bit of a mystery is a better description. A man is divorcing his wife with ALS to marry Heather. His daughters are a little upset, despite liking Heather and begin to suspect their father of being violent with women.

This fast paced book had me planted firmly in my chair until I reached its stunning ending! I loved how the author built up the suspense for each well crafted character and their secrets. The story reminded me a bit of the movie Suspicion with its building paranoia. Engrossing read!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this arc.

I can always count on Sally Hepworth for the most fascinating, thought provoking domestic thrillers. She makes you think of each character in a different perspective and you find yourself wondering what you can and should believe! The Younger Wife is a slow paced thriller about a dysfunctional family (aren’t we all, though??) and throughout the book, you learn to love and hate certain people. The book starts off with a literal “bang” and unwinds from there. I find Sally’s manner of writing to be refreshing and completely captivating. I will continue to read books so produces. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Another great read from Sally Hepworth! It was very well-written with fleshed out characters that you really felt for. I'm not sure I would call this a theiller, but it was a great story nonetheless!