The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth was not exactly what I was expecting, it wasn't really a mystery. What it was, instead, was a family drama that revolved around the effect of one man on the lives of five women who may, or may not, really know who he is. We, like these women, are kept guessing. Entertaining.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a family drama, not a thriller. Two sisters are grappling with the fact that their father is engaged to be married to a much younger woman.
Even worse is that he is still married to their mother, who is in a care home. They don’t trust the new woman and they all have secrets.
This one is on par with this author’s other books, a quick, entertaining read!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for an advanced readers copy of this book for my honest review.

While the latest novel by Sally Hepworth is a bit of a slow burn...the ending is I don't even know! You will love it or you will throw the book across the room. I liked it.. This is a book about an imperfect family that got off the rails somewhere along the way..

Recommended if you're looking for that next WTF read.

Sally Hepworth falls short of her previous novels in her latest, the Younger Wife. Readers are supposed to find Stephen Aston magnanimous – loving husband, wonderful father, successful cardiac surgeon, blah, blah, blah -- but how so when he already is married and is making plans to divorce his Alzheimer’s-inflicted wife Pam to marry a woman younger than his adult daughters? Furthermore, his daughters are hanging out with the new younger wife-to-be instead of being up in arms that their father would treat their mother this way.

Everybody has secrets in this story, except seemingly for Stephen with his outward cheating on his sick wife. He takes the new woman to dinner with friends of his and Pam’s. Only one person rings true in that scenario – a friend of Pam’s who stands up for the ailing wife. Stephen also takes the homewrecker to professional functions.

While Stephen seems to be living out in the open with his mistress, readers learn that both of his daughters have serious problems as well as does his mistress -- problems involving rape, kleptomania, and alcoholism
While readers usually have to brace themselves for a mind-blowing ending in Hepworth’s books, this time they will be puzzling over it instead.

Having read all of Hepworth’s novels, I found myself disappointed in this one, hoping it is just a one-off. She is the bestselling author of eight novels including The Good Sister. She lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her family.

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting February 25, 2022.

I would like to thank St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.

Tully and Rachel’s mother, who has dementia, lives in a care home. Meanwhile, their father is dating someone only a few years older than the sisters. So imagine their surprise when their father announces he intends to marry Heather. Of course, they’re upset and more so because he’s still married to their mother. This stilted family is carrying a lot of secrets, and because no one really communicates, it will be interesting to see how they come to light.

The Younger Wife is also a book that draws you in from the very start. I liked the slow unfolding of the story, the alternating perspectives from the women, and the secrets they’re carrying. I read reviews before writing my own, and some people are upset with the ending. But, I don’t know, I liked it. It’s not what I expected, but that’s okay because it worked with the book’s overall theme. Overall, this is a super fun read from the very start. Thank you, St. Martin’s, for sending this along!

As all of Sally's books, this book kept my attention the whole time. It was fast paced and gripping. I loved all of the characters and couldn't put the book down. I wish I had a new Sally book to read every week!

Tully and Rachel are shocked to learn that their dad is engaged to Heather, a woman younger than both of them. The bigger problem is that he’s still married to their mom who’s living in a dementia ward. Things in this family get messy really fast. The story is told from the time they first meet Stephen’s fiancée to the events that take place at the wedding.

This book is one that can definitely be finished in one sitting; it’s a quick read and the writing just flows. With that being said, there isn’t a whole lot of excitement happening. However, somehow I wanted to keep reading to find out how if things would get more sinister. They did not. Not really. I wouldn’t call this a thriller, more like domestic suspense.

Told from the perspectives of Tully, Rachel and Heather, I really liked the rich character development. They are each fighting their own demons and I found their storylines very engaging. The frustrating ending left me with more questions than answers. I’m not sure where to rate this one but I’m between 3.5 - 4 ⭐️. I did enjoy it although I wasn’t really blown away.

If you love domestic drama, you’ll want to read this book!

(4.5⭐️) Whip smart and deftly written! I finished this domestic drama/suspense in mere hours. Full of intrigue and brilliantly layered, nothing is as it seems in Hepworth’s newest novel, proving she continues to be at the top of her game.

The novel begins at the wedding of Stephen Astor. His ex-wife and future wife both stand at the front of the chapel alongside him, his daughters, and grandsons. In any other family, with any other man… this situation would be outlandish. But Stephen is no ordinary man.

He and Pam were happily married for decades until dementia stole her away. And now, their grown daughters, Tully and Rachel, must get used to a newer, younger interloper to their family. Just who is Heather Wisher, and how did she get her claws into their father?

I love a good family drama, and this one is addictive and compulsively readable. Not only does it unfold in short chapters, the alternating point of view adeptly developed the characters in a way I felt I knew them deeply while also not at all.

This book does have a lot going on. But I found that actually made this plot work all the better.

That ending! It’s a DOOZY, and you’re definitely going to want to discuss it. Some people will love it. Some will hate it. But most of us never had it all figured out… Utterly brilliant!

Don’t miss the author’s note at the end. Hepworth’s reflection on her dear aunt and the hot water bottle that set this all in motion endeared me even more to The Younger Wife.

Many thanks to Sally Hepworth, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

Are we women unreliable narrators about our own lives? Or do we just come to disbelieve and doubt our own experiences because we let the men in our lives do the narrating for us?

WOW, this was an intense read that is going to stay with me for a very long time. First of all, let me tell you that this book is NOT about what you think it’s about. At ALL. And nope, I’m not going to tell you what it IS about plot-wise because that mystery unraveling is way too good to spoil.

I will tell you about the themes I loved. It’s about complicated women and their difficulties in relationships with men…and how it all starts at home in your childhood with your father. It’s about gaslighting. It’s about women not trusting themselves, even when they have all the evidence in front of them. It’s about female friendships, sisters, love, how you see your family from the inside versus how everyone else might see your family as outside observers. And it’s about good relationships with men vs. bad ones.

Gosh this was an intelligent, tricky, twisty book with really deep and interesting ideas and themes. Sally Hepworth is such an intelligent, creative, feminist author. She impresses me more with each book she writes. I didn’t think any book could beat her last one but darn it if she hasn’t done it again.

And that ending! Boy is it divisive, but I loved it and marveled at the fantastic execution of the ending twist (which to me was not actually a twist but consistent with the whole book). I won’t spoil it but I’ll just say this - don’t let the very select pieces of narration at the ending gaslight you like one of the characters (and all of that character’s admirers) gaslights others all throughout the book. If you read this book, and you believe the lived experiences of the characters, you know what happened. #BelieveWomenNarrators ;)

This book has a little something to say, and I am just so impressed with Sally Hepworth and how she executed this. It was a legitimately scary, surprising, and important book — a better Big Little Lies. I am going to read this book again just as soon as I finish processing it now that I know the ending, and I can tell it will be a whole new reading experience the second time.

Hats off to Sally Hepworth for once again creating compelling characters, a super gripping plot, and an important social message in a roller coaster ride of a read. One of my favorites of the year and I’m sure it will remain that way come December.

Thanks to St. Martin’s, NetGalley and the talented author for such a fantastic and clever reading experience. LOVED it!

I enjoyed the overall story, but I’m not sure how I feel about the ending. I would have liked more closure with some of the characters, too. This book definitely kept me entertained the whole way through.

Another score for Sally Hepworth. Was very excited to get my hands on this one after reading her last book. There are plenty of characters in this that you will either love or hate. You will question many of them several times.

The twisty reveals are exceptionally well done and this was a true thriller. I kept running into the end of a chapter and immediately having to start the next. I’m sure you will have the same experience.

The ending did throw me for a loop and I might’ve thrown my kindle in response.

Once again, I wish we could leave half stars! I give this book 3.5 stars. The beginning of the book was SO GOOD. I was so angry at the husband, Stephen Aston, for even thinking of getting remarried while his wife was still alive. The ending is where the book kind of lost it for me. I felt like what I thought might be the case when I was about 20% into the book is exactly what happened. There wasn't any suspense left. No plot twists. So I wound up finishing the book feeling slightly let down. I did appreciate the growth of the female characters, but overall, I probably won't recommend this one to others. Thank you for Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC. PS I loved The Mother in Law by Sally Hepworth, so definitely read that one if you haven't!

I found this book to be intriguing & had a hard time putting it down. I thought the storyline was interesting. Two sisters are dealing with their father wanting to divorce their mother, who is slowly disappearing due to dementia, in order to marry a younger woman. They are also dealing with their own issues in their lives. There are lots of twists & turns in this book. Highly recommend!
Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

A page-turner of a mess! A family full of secrets narrated by three women: Rachel, Tully, and Heather. Stephen is married to Pam, who has dementia. Stephen begins a new relationship with Heather and they decide to get married. Stephen expects his two adult daughters, Rachel and Tully, to accept Heather into the family and "play nice". Heather is 30 years younger than Stephen - about
Rachel's age. Rachel has an issue - she hasn't dated since she was 16 and hasn't told anyone why. Tully has a secret vice that she can't control. Heather is hiding her family history. And Stephen, all the women are wondering about Stephen, who is he really and what is he hiding?

This was an engrossing story that kept me wondering. I never knew who to believe - all the narrators are unreliable. And the ending! I still don't know what was real and what was imagined. The book was definitely a page-turner and I enjoyed it. I liked the writing style and hope to read more by Sally Hepworth.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on April 5, 2022.

The Younger Wife is a page turner with the right mix of character study and suspense. The ending will leave you questioning everything you just read and will make for lively book club discussion! This book explores the addictions of the three main female characters but it’s Stephen that we should really be worried about. If you liked Sally Hepworth’s previous novels, this one is a must read!

Meet the Astons -
Tully & Rachel - sisters extraordinaire
Stephen - their father; still married to their mother who is in a care facility for dementia
And Heather is Stephen's significantly younger fiancé.
This family is unconventional to say the least!

Sally Hepworth does it again! This story was so good. It starts out as your typical father getting remarried to a much younger (age of his daughters) wife. Rachel and Tully have never known anything other than a loving a caring physician father. BUT as the wedding gets closer, Rachel & Tully learn a few things about their father's past that they just can't let go of and after further investigation, he may not be as perfect as he seems.

This book has it all. It is told from alternating perspectives. Some reliable, some not (alcohol abuse). It touches on important topics of dementia care and domestic violence. This one was twisty and interesting. I read it quickly and was absorbed in the story. The ending was a little bit open ended, which can be a turn off for me, but in this case - it just left me thinking hmmmm, I wonder!!

So basically I'm speechless after reading this .I loved this book and I was literally glued to the pages after I started it . . Rachel and Tully's father Stephen announces he is getting remarried to Heather . A woman their age . Their mother is a home with dementia and needless to say neither of them think this is right. They think Heather has an ulterior motive for wanting to marry someone so much older than her. The twists and turns come quick once you get into the story and the ending leaves you surprised and a bit baffled .I'm still confused by the ending but I loved it also .

Woop-woop! Sally Hepworth is back with another winner!

Your inner detective will be working overtime with Sally Hepworth’s latest book! There are so many mysteries to solve here and this one doesn’t tie up nicely with a big red bow; it’s open-ended.

When the book begins with a prologue from an unnamed source attending a wedding, you’ll want to break out with The Dixie Cups ‘Chapel of Love’ song…you know, “Goin’ to the chapel and we’re gonna get married…” Immediately you’ll know two things: Stephen Aston is marrying a younger woman today and something terrible happens necessitating first responders. The tension and suspense is already created and we haven’t even got to chapter one. I almost thought I heard Sally Hepworth in the back row of the wedding venue trying to stifle an evil cackle.

Sisters, Rachel and Tully, have enough on their plate without having to meet their dad and his new girlfriend. Rachel’s baking business is skyrocketing and she’s just hired a delivery person to help ease the anxiety and stress. Tully has young children and a husband that’s made some poor financial choices. Her anxiety is at its maximum threshold, too. Neither of the siblings is prepared for the bomb their dad is going to drop at dinner.

Efficient is Dr. Stephen Aston’s middle name. He introduces his daughters to his girlfriend for the first time and then announces that they’re actually engaged. Try to swallow THAT bite without choking on it. The girls see two problems with his declaration: one, their mom is still alive AND he’s still married to her and two, Heather is younger than both of his daughters! This has to be a joke.

It’s not.

So very cleverly written, this five-star suspense had me guessing right to the end….and I’m still mulling over the ending today! High five, Mrs. Hepworth. You did it AGAIN.

In giving readers insight into the fiancee, Hepworth explores anxiety and the coping mechanisms we develop and rely on to get us through the stressors. One character steals, one drinks and another binge eats. With two very stressful years under our belt, most of us are experiencing anxiety. This will resonate with many of us. How can we get control of our anxiety when we can control very little that’s going on around us? The Aston family is no different. Just what is this younger woman’s angle? Is she after his home? Money? You’ll have to read to find out if it’s the HEA the bride and groom had imagined.

Absolutely perfect for book clubs, this book will have you second-guessing every character and trying to determine which one of the characters is the villain. I STILL DON’T KNOW.

I was gifted this advance copy by Sally Hepworth, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Honestly, I was expecting a lot from this book. I have heard amazing things about the author & this was my first thriller by Sally Hempsworth. I was very disappointed. It was a slow read for me & it introduces some very tough subjects & then *poof* it skips over the emotions of dealing with the trauma. The idea of The Younger Wife’s story as a whole is amazing. It just lacked the depth of someone who had actually experienced any sort of trauma. I felt like the ending was rushed & made light of an abusive situation.

3 stars - mostly for the idea of the storyline - I absolutely hate rating a book this low - It pains me - I know that an author puts their soul into a book - I just think this misses the mark & makes light of something women deal with everyday

I received this book as an ARC for my honest review.

This one gives me all of the vibes of playing clue. We know where someone was hurt, but not the “who” or with what. After Stephen Aston decides to marry 34-year-old; this notably comes as a shock to his daughters Tully and Rachel (who are barely older than her). Hepworth will take you for a ride that begins at the first meeting with daddy’s wife-to-be until the post-wedding chaos begins. Rachel and Tully are shockingly relatable despite their unique personalities. Heather, the new fiancée, is charming and just a little bit broken. These women will keep you on your toes, and the plot will leave you guessing. I do warn that the ending is somewhat ambiguous, so this book is not for readers that need a clear cut ending. Overall, I’m glad I had the chance to read this one!