Two sisters, one romance, and a developmental disability.

Sounds like "The Good Sister" but it's THE YOUNGER WIFE. Same easy reading, but heavier subject matters (and a heavy dose of classism).

A wrecking ball of a story about a family's collapse, with a tragic (and abrupt) ending.

In what to me would have been more aptly titled "The Older Husband," a 63-year-old man divorces his 69-year-old wife, who has dementia and resides in a nursing home, to marry their 34-year-old interior designer who's younger than his two daughters.

Told in short, punchy chapters from multiple perspectives (The Younger Wife, the groom's daughters, and an uninvited wedding guest), the for-the-most-part-linear, third-person narrative delves deep into the lives and psyches of this dysfunctional family in crisis.

As their personal histories unfold (the proverbial apple doesn't fall far from the tree — off of any family branch, here) and skeltons in the closet emerge (one, all but the exact same as in "His & Hers"), casual/new readers of domestic suspense might vacillate in their opinions of these well-developed characters (full of self-loathing, guilt, and shame), and be surprised by the turn of events; but the plot is far too predictable for seasoned readers of the genre, who will be puzzled only by one element (left till the epilogue).

It's set in post-pandemic times ("Glen 20" is like Lysol. There's a bunch of Australian brands — lingo, as well). Hopefully the world will be, when this novel publishes.

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TW: domestic abuse; rape; alcoholism; food addiction; kleptomania

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advance copy!

Sally Hepworth has become a must-read author for me ever since I read The Mother-in-Law several years ago. I am slowly making my way through all of her backlist titles, but when I see a new one pop up, I can’t resist reading it right away! So, when I saw The Younger Wife available on Net Galley, I requested it and was thrilled to be approved to read the ARC of her newest novel and it did not disappoint!

The Younger Wife is a jam-packed full of family drama! The story centers around the Aston family in which each member of this family has so many issues to be explored.

Tully and Rachel Aston are sisters whose father is getting married to a woman their age while their mother is in a care facility for dementia. These sisters are trying to accept this marriage out of love for their father and dealing with crisis in their own lives.

Tully is a highly anxious person who just found out that she and her husband are about to lose their home and very comfortable lifestyle because of a bad investment. She is also a parent of two sons who feels like she is constantly failing them and their needs. AND she has a long kept, shameful secret.

Rachel runs a very successful cake/bakery business. She is obsessed with cooking, baking and eating. She also is single and hasn’t dated anyone since she was a teenager. There is a reason for this that Heather has kept hidden for years and is finally ready to move forward.

Heather is engaged to be married to Tully and Rachel’s father even though she sometimes has doubts about their relationship. Of course, she has a dark past that she also wants to keep hidden.

This novel starts out with a scene from the wedding that ends in chaos as told by an unknown narrator, whose identity is later revealed.

We are able to read the point of view of each of the characters I mentioned above throughout the book. I loved the nuance that this added to the story. Some of them started out as very unlikeable, but ended up being more relatable as their story was told. The reader comes to realize that we all have “stuff” that we are carrying around.

This family drama/physiological thriller kept me compulsively reading until the end! And, oh my gosh…the ending!!!

I typically prefer endings that wrap everything up in a nice little bow. This book does not do that. It leaves you guessing and questioning yourself and the characters. Yet, somehow Sally Hepworth was able to accomplish this ending without turning me off from the book as a whole. My only explanation for that is pure genius and absolute incredible writing skills!

CONTENT WARNING
This novel deals with several very serious topics that include rape eating disorders, anxiety, kleptomania, verbal abuse and physical domestic violence.

RATING
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
OTHER INFORMATION
Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this early!

Publication Date: April 5, 2022
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers | Women’s Fiction
Length: 352 pages (hardcover)
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I love all of Ms. Hepworth's books! I thought I would really dislike Heather but grew quite fond of her. All the characters were so well developed! But, this story is very interesting and really shows how we can really see what we want, or think we see! Perspective is so interesting! I can't wait to read her previous book, as I am still playing catch up! Thanks for this wonderful read.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.
Dr. Stephen Ashton is marrying his much younger girlfriend even though there his current wife is still alive, albeit in a care home with dementia. His three daughters are shocked and suspicious of the beautiful young woman. He is an eminent heart surgeon, very well liked and admired. He even invites his former wife to the wedding! Something dire happens at the wedding, but we won't find out what until the end of the book.
Everyone in the family has dark secrets. We follow their stories individually throughout the story and get to know the characters very well. I was ambivalent, not really liking any of them that much.
But the story had me gripped until the ending, which was not straightforward - was he or wasn't he?
It was a good read, but the ending made it a 4-star rather than a 5-star book for me.
Recommended.

What a great read of a psychological thriller! Told in three voices, and narrated by a fourth, whose identity is withheld until long into the book, the story unfolds easily. The novel begins at a wedding where something untoward happens just as the bride and groom are leaving the alter. From there, the story rewinds several months and a fascinating backstory begins. Highly respected heart surgeon, Stephan Aston, invites his daughters to lunch and introduces him to the new woman in his life, Heather, who is their contemporary. The only fly in the ointment is he’s still married to their mother, Pamela.

You won’t want to miss a word of this highly entertaining, very readable novel. Author Sally Hepworth has written a most enjoyable book full of very likable characters. Thanks to NetGalley for making this available to me prior to publication.

Sally Hepworth has done it again. Much like her book The Good Sister, The Younger Wife will keep you guessing until the very end. Every time that I thought I had the plot figured out, she threw a curveball and had me shaking my head. It was fast-paced and entertaining until the last page where I sat in shock as the last pieces of the puzzle were put into place. Put this book on your TBR list for April 2022, it’s not to be missed!

I expected some family drama, and this book packed a punch. Two sisters and their father’s girlfriend, all in their mid-thirties, start to suspect some deeply hidden family secrets while working through their own long-held issues. I was immediately sucked in by the confusing and potentially violent scene at the wedding in the first few pages. The story moved quickly along from there, with its short chapters and rotating perspectives, including that of a mysterious, initially unnamed woman. There weren’t any long, drawn out parts that felt like filler.

Hepworth created great characters, including the supporting ones. I didn’t always think they were 100% fully developed, and I really didn’t like everything about them, but I couldn’t wait to see what happened to them. I liked the way the story wasn’t tied up with a pretty bow at the end. It seems more realistic to me to have some uncertainty, especially when dealing with decades worth of potential secrets.

This was my first Hepworth novel, and I would definitely read more.

I loved this book! I think this is best one that Sally Hepworth has written! The drama is there, suspense, surprises and a climatic ending.- a perfect thriller book in my opinion.

As the story unfolds, we find that all of the characters have a secret in their past. These secrets have affected their lives, past and future, as well as their outlooks on certain things.

When Stephen Aston announces that he intends to marry Heather, a younger woman the friction begins. The close family ties with his family are severed. Things become more strained as the secrets of the characters are brought out. As the secrets are revealed the women of Stephen's life begin to look at things with jaded views causing them to jump to conclusions.

Are they right or are they wrong? You might be surprised!

“ I always thought I came from this ideal family. I prided myself on it. Now I can’t think of a more dysfunctional one.”

Very few books grab you from the prologue… Whose narrating? Why is she at the wedding? Who committed what crime? Why is there blood ?
From then on you are strapped into your seat and along for the ride that this author is operating.

When Tully and Rachel’s dad tells them that he is marrying a woman close to their age, they have every emotion… especially since their mom, his current wife, is still alive… living in a nursing home with advance stage dementia.
A twisty, roller coaster, unputdownable book that will have you reading way past your bedtime.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I wish it had a stronger ending, but overall it held my interest. Thanks NetGalley for advance copy.

Declaring it now...this is my favorite Hepworth book so far. I loved this book. I loved the sisters both independently as characters and as a sibling unit. I loved the supporting characters - especially Darcy! I loved that the story unfolded with the merging of past and present. I loved that I didn't figure out what happened and "whodunnit" before the reveal. And I absolutely loved the ending. I found it to be brilliant and full of unspoken commentary about the complexities surrounding domestic violence, grief and relationships. Hepworth combines witty dialogue, strong character development and deeply emotional subject matter to create an emotional, suspenseful and thought provoking book. Highly recommend putting this on your 2022 TBR now!

A great read that starts with a disastrous wedding to a second, much younger wife. The reader knows something terrible has happened but not exactly what, and the confusion continues as the twisted family dynamics are revealed. Hearing the point of view of the two sisters, the young wife, and finding out what exactly is going on with the mother suffering from dementia keeps the intrigue up until the last moment.

I love Sally Hepworth's books because they have a little more depth than your average suspense novel. I could not figure out what was really happening and the ending really got me thinking.

I received this book as an ARC and this is my review. Wow! This story is loaded with twists and is impossible to put down - I loved it! The characters are mega- flawed and so interesting. As with many stories about families, this one highlights dysfunction to a new level. I totally recommend this book to anyone who loves to read a great psychological drama.

Such a great thriller! I have read her other books and this is my favorite so far. I found I could not put this book down and read it in less than 24 hours. This is such a relatable story, two sisters having to deal with their father remarrying and to someone so close to their age! I love the narrative of this book and telling it in the different character perspectives. I love how you learn more about each of them as the chapters progress. Overall this is such a great story and a very addictive book with a great ending!

You guys, Sally Hepworth is a NATIONAL TREASURE ( in all nations 😂) and I will not be stopped in saying so ♥️

Sally is the most down to earth, relatable, hilarious person on the planet… and she also has the *audacity* to write novels that will not only knock the wind right out of you, but put the wind in your sails. Her genius in her novels is mind blowing, and she gets me EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

I believe in her characters, and am so often left bereft by the fact her novels are over and I have to leave each of them behind. The depths of humanity that Sally spills onto each page of her works are some that I had no understanding of how to wrap my mind around, let alone form the words to describe.

I was 2 hours late to work this morning because I HAD TO FINISH ‘The Younger Wife’ and my mind is utter mush, just continuously reeling.

This novel was SMASHING, in every way, and quite possibly my favorite one yet… and the top 3 that I have read this year.

I have read a couple of other Sally Hepworth novels and I liked them a lot. I must say this one was my favorite so far. She just keeps getting better and better. What I loved most about this one in particular was the way she built each character with their own set of quirks and they were very unique quirks I might add. This novel was a surprise because I truly believed that the younger wife was going to be a totally different character. I will say no more on that as to not spoil the story.

Tully and Rachel are sisters, very different sisters, but love each other. However, they aren't always close as in being at each other's houses all the time and calling and texting daily. I believe they both wanted that but their lives were going in different directions. Some things they did not want to share with each other out of shame or embarrassment. Their life was complicated and their relationships with their parents were as well, more so as they got older. In the younger years things were pretty normal.

They grew up in a nice home and wanted for nothing. Their dad was a surgeon and their mom was an attentive and present but mom now has dementia and dad is getting remarried to a younger woman. But...he must divorce Tully and Rachel's mom first. So many emotions surround this situation their dad has put them all in. We continue through the process of all of this up until the wedding day and revelations are had and the shameful quirks are humbly shared between the sisters then, the wedding day disaster happens.

I am so grateful to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book. It is one of my favorites of 2021. #StMartin'sPress #TheYoungerWife #SallyHepworth

The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth

Another slow burn twisty masterpiece by Sally Hepworth. Ms. Hepworth is one of those authors who is on "auto-buy" for me, meaning that she could write instruction on how to dismantle your microwave and I would still read it because you know there's a twist at the end!

Stephen is getting married to a much younger women and his daughters aren't too keen on the idea. Especially since they are so close in age. And especially since he divorced his ex-wife, their mother, who has early onset dementia, in order to marry Heather. A murder occurs during which should be a joyous day (for some at least) but who was killed? And who is the killer? I won't give too much away because I love going in blind, especially with Sally's books! This is one of those books you can' put down because you need to know what happens next!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an e-ARC of The Younger Wife in exchange for my honest review.

I wanted to love this book because it was different but I ended up just finding it ok. Through the story I was interested with the narrative of each character and their perspective and individual stories. By the end of the book I was left with questions. The twist was good but didn’t answer all the story line. Why would the first wife say she was hurt but take it back? I would be curious to see a second book come to answer some of the questions. Overall I enjoyed the book. The characters where unique but relatable.

The story is told from three POV, the two daughters, Heather and Rachel and Tully, the soon to be younger wife of their father. Each chapter reveals more about the three women , the issues they are dealing with and the secrets in their lives.
Mixed feelings about the ending.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.