Thank you Sally Hepworth, St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the copy of The Younger Wife. It’s a fine standalone slow burn domestic thriller with a hint of murder mystery. The “Big Little Lies” comparisons are bound to be there due to similar themes.

At the heart of this tale are the Aston’s family- a dysfunctional one with each character more broken than the other. Stephen Aston, the head patriarch of the family has decided to get married to a girl , Heather, young enough to be his daughter. Eldest daughter Tully is a kleptomaniac while younger daughter, Rachel, stress eats to cope up with memories of being raped as a teenager. Things turn weird when Rachel lands upon seemingly an inheritance from her mother with Tully and a mysterious name on a note. Heather, too has an equally dark family history. How the ladies in the narrative find a common ground , fight their inner demons and whether they succeed is in a nutshell the basic premise of the book.

The book addresses some very relevant themes of an abusive relationship, mental health and through the viewpoint of the 3 formidable protagonists, etches out these themes pretty well. Where it falters for me is the freshness aspect as neither the hint of mystery or non linear theme introduce anything you wouldn’t have read before. Will go for a 3.5 -4 stars.

#BookReview #NetGalley #StMartin’sPress #Sally Hepworth #TheYoungerWife

I ended up DNFing this book. I don't think it's anything wrong with the storyline I have just figured out that I don't vibe with this author's writing style for some reason. I have tried to read a few of her books now and I end up DNFing them as I just can't seem to get into the story.

This is probably my least favorite Sally Hepworth read, but I still liked it. There were times when it felt really slow, and I wasn't a fan of all the gaslighting. I also didn't really like Tully as a character. The ending was way too ambiguous, but I've read this was fixed in the final version.

I think every author can have that one-off book that didn't work and feel like they didn't write it, and this is Sally Hepworth's. However, she is still a rock star to me and an author with staying power!!

I had an ARC for The Younger Wife on my shelf for quite some time and decided to wait till it was published to listen to the finished copy with the changes to the ending. Then I lost interest in reading another book about the younger wife and older Dad with daughters, but after reading and loving The Soulmates I decided to give it a try. However, it's not just that familiar trope; Sally Hepworth gives us something a little different from the character. Heather, the younger wife, is not that typical unlikable, golddigger, trophy-annoying character. She is likable and someone I was rooting for. There is a rags-to-riches trope; however, the younger wife arc is not the driving force here. It's all about Stephen, the "older husband," who has some secrets he has been manipulating, and now his daughters Tully, Rachel, and Heather just might be catching on to them, creating some suspense as to who to trust with a little mystery to the story.

The story is told through Heather, Tully, and Rachel, each with different performers narrating their stories. I always love listening to the different voices of the characters, and that creates a better connection to the characters for me.

Tully and Rachel have compelling stories with their own conflicts to overcome, and I loved the themes explored in both, each being a little different from the same old. However, instead of putting me in their shoes, their storylines could have done better at creating the layers needed to understand what motivated those conflicts. It felt soapy and unrealistic, taking away that believability element that it could be happening to the characters required to care about the characters.

The ending was a big deal for some reason I missed, and Sally Hepworth changed it from the early copies. I went back and read the ARC's end, and I liked how things wrapped up better in the finished copy. There were still a few things I wanted clearer, and after thinking about it, I was satisfied but was hoping for a more rewarding payoff.

Overall I enjoyed listening to the story and wanted to continue until I was done.

I received a copy from the publisher through NG and listened to the finished copy.

This book was sent to me on Kindle by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher and author. This book is resplendent with mystery and intrigue. A cannot put down novel, written by a talented and gifted author.
Remarriage and divorce, along with murder and secrets, move this book quickly. The dynamics of the sisters and the parents are thought provoking. The family dynamics are intriguing. Be prepared for the surprise ending. Enjoy.

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book. My reviews can be read on my GoodReads account here: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1335387-kelly

A wedding of an older man and younger woman attended by his grown daughters, their families and his ex-wife suffering from dementia. Someone is hurt but who …and why? And by whom? Told from different perspectives and jumping back and forth from the wedding day to the past, this story kept me interested. However, the resolution did not work for me at all. Still, I will be seeking out more of Hepworth’s work.

I wanted to love it, but I didn’t. I thought most of the story was very well done and enjoyed getting to know each character and their story. The ending was predictable early on and I guess I was expecting a bigger twist to hit at the end.

Thank you so much @StMartinsPress & @NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 05 April 2022)

SYNOPSIS | Tully and Rachel are bridesmaids at their fathers wedding and they are not enthusiastic that he is marrying Heather who is young enough to be their sister. On top of this, their mother who has dementia is also in attendance which they feel is in poor taste.

WHAT I LIKED:
- dysfunctional chaotic family vibes
- the little teasers of what really happened scattered throughout
- a whole book of unreliable narrators & an open to interpretation ending

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- the ending (although I've heard there was an additional paragraph included in the final version)
- the gaslighting is out in full force here
- the characters felt cliché (for example Tully & Rachel were both repeatedly referenced by their one dimensional traits)
- the majority of this book can be boiled down to whether you as the reader believe the women in this story or not

A psychological thriller with main characters who actually talk about their issues, hallelujah! I cannot say how many times I’m frustrated when so many issues could be cleared up if the the characters just shared what was going on. I find it more relatable to everyday life. I saw a lot of complaints about the ending, but to me it’s just showing the progression of how these women were able to do more each generation to break a cycle. Sign me up for Sally Hepworth’s next novel! Thank you to netgalley for an ARC ebook in return for a non biased review.

The Younger Wife was my first read from Sally Hepworth. I found her pacing flawless as the plot flowed seamlessly to a gratifying finish.

Initially, I fully expected to loath the "younger wife" for the superficial golddigger we love to hate! As the story unfolded and relationships evolved, I found myself intrigued. Hepworth has managed to breathe new life into a cliche of a storyline. I found The Younger Wife to be a refreshing twist and recommend it to others who have been jaded by the same old plot twist!

I absolutely LOVED this book. I love a good domestic thriller and this one fir the bill quite nice. I was hooked from the very beginning and couldn't stop reading this one. I highly recommend you read this book.

Sally Hepworth's books can be real hit or miss for me. This story was one that worked pretty good for me. Told from multiple POV's - two sisters and their father's soon to be (younger) wife - this is a story that focuses on a completely dysfunctional family. The father is planning to marry a much younger wife, someone close in age to his daughters. The mother has dementia and is still sort of in the picture. All of the main women in the story have addiction issues of varying degrees. There's a lot that happens in this story and I think it's important to go into it blind. This is a twisty read that you likely won't be able to put down!

Sooo good! One of my faves to read! Definitely would recommend picking this one up if you see it in the store

Sally Hepworth is one of my favorite authors! She has a way of hooking you on the story from the start, and shocking you with twists throughout. The Younger Wife is an excellent thriller that I highly recommend!

Hepworth is an "auto read" for me. Her books are typically complete with a fast pace, short chapters, and engaging characters. This book was similar. It kept me guessing. This was a great read!

Family drama, mixed in with Thrills and Chills and Mystery. I enjoy reading Sally's work and this did not disappoint.

Several players in this story and a fast paced read. Family secrets play a big role in this story and it will keep you on your toes for sure!

Another good domestic thriller. I love the way she writes characters. I feel like I know them, and end up having strong feelings about them and the story. The twists and turns are keep you guessing and changing your mind. With that said, something about this one just missed the mark for me. Not quite sure what. I liked it, just didn’t love it.

I am a big fan of books by Sally Hepworth. She does a great job of entwining family stories with some psychological drama thrown in.

This book was set up in an interesting way. It starts the the climax, sort of a "whodunit," and then backtracks to keep you guessing throughout the rest of the book. It is told from the point of view of three different characters: the younger wife and the two older daughters. They all center around one man: the dad doctor. All three have their own issues such as being a kleptomaniac, an abuser, and a "foodaholic." I found myself cheering for all three characters.

Here is something interesting, though. I read a digital copy to review before it was published. Others have said the ending is a little different than what I read. I loved the ending, either way, but now I'm curious to read how it has changed.

I gave this four stars out of five. I was given this book for my honest review.

This domestic thriller was one I had a hard time putting down and would recommend to anyone who likes suspense and drama.
The story starts off right away as a typical domestic thriller, but quickly turns into more of a family drama. To my surprise I really enjoyed that the novel took a turn to focus on the family dynamics. The story is told from 3 main perspectives: the sisters, Tully and Rachel, and the new girlfriend, Heather. I found all 3 women and points of view, interesting and well developed. The story explores the secrets that each are hiding and how they have shaped the women into who they are today. As the 3 women each deal with their own struggles, they are also working to uncover the true dynamics of their family and if their father/boyfriend is keeping secrets of his own.
The ending took me by surprise as it jumps back to the events at the beginning of the book, and continues on as a domestic thriller.
While not my typical thriller book, I did thoroughly enjoy the book.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.