This is one of those stories where the great idea didn’t translate into a great book. I enjoyed the first third of the book, then it feel meandering, directionless, and trying to cover too much ground (tackle lots of different topics).

There was also a lot more logistical detail about the creation of an app than I thought was needed for a chick-lit novel.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

- THE WIFE APP is part social commentary, part juicy beach read.
- I loved that the three main characters all came to the Wife App from different vantage points. Even though on the surface their lives were quite similar, they all had different reasons for participating. I very much enjoyed the gossipy, juicy social and relationship dramas they all went through during the launch of the app (PS - the cover doesn't say it, but this book is queer!)
- The book only touches briefly on the class aspect of an app like this - how this is simply transferring the mental loads of wealthy women onto gig workers - but doesn't really do anything about it. It seemed like the author was checking a box here so as not to get dinged for it.

This book has an interesting premise, but just enough cringy moments to knock it down in rating. Everyone could use a "wife" at times, but the way they went about this sometimes just seems so cringe. On top of that, I felt myself grind my teeth everything they referred to business school as b school. BRB, scheduling a dentist appointment now because it happened so frequently. this was a light 3 star read for me.

Lauren, Madeline, and Sophie are friends who come up with an idea to help wives and mothers outsource the mental load of work that tends to fall on women instead of men in marriages. As a working mom who is the one who handles everything for the kids, now I want a Wife App to hire people to help me schedule appointments, remember birthday parties and buy gifts, and do all of the little things that take up so much mental space. I loved the friendships between the 3 women and the story was a perfect blend of brain candy, feminism, and heart.

I liked the idea of this book but, it overall just wasn't enough for me. I did enjoy reading this as it had some funny bits that made me laugh out loud too. The ending I thought was just okay. I overall wanted to like this book more than I did b/c I mean come on who wouldn't want a wife app. Maybe it was just me and the mood I was in reading it though?

If you could outsource the mental load, would you? As a working mother I am very familiar with the buzz terms of today- default parent, mental load and like many I struggle with navigating and managing all those like the main characters, Lauren and her friends Madeline and Sophie. The mental load for this three NYC women is compounded by the fact that it led to the demise of their marriages ( along with cheating, alcoholic among others). As the navigate solo parenting ( but really they were already doing it before their divorces, co-parenting, and dating and sex post divorce they come with an revolutionary idea to help other women by creating The Wife App. The Wife App lets spouses outsource some of the more mundane task that keep life, marriages and parenthood flowing. As she scales up in her creation she learns a lot about herself and the modern motherhood.

This book seemed to move at a fast pace which was good and sometimes too much. I did find the story pretty unbelievable overall. Maybe that was due to how fast the book moved but there were just many plot elements that were just too rushed. Getting the app up to usage without a real business plan, few negative experiences that were glossed over, Beatrice and Sophie to name a few. I enjoyed the idea and the story and read the book pretty quickly but the large holes in the story dampened the story a bit for me.

First, I was very intrigued by the premise of this book and the beginning was so much fun. I’m sure most partners (wives or otherwise) can relate to the feeling of having too much mental load in the relationship. The Wife App was a cute idea and I enjoyed the majority of the plot surrounding it. I also enjoyed the personal growth experienced by the main characters and in some of their relationships, like Madeline with her daughter.

However, for a book with such a humorous fix to a relatable situation, I was disappointed that the book didn’t include more conversations with partners about correcting the imbalance in their relationship. While the app was fun, it seemed to take up a majority of the book and I would have preferred more ‘offline’ plot in the second half of the book.

Second, I discovered a trope that I really dislike, and that is insta-love.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the eARC! I was so intrigued by the premise: three friends create an app for people to be paid to take on others’ mental load? Can this be a real thing? 😂 I loved all three of the main characters and their stories. Each of the three women felt developed and realized & had their unique personal journey they went on simultaneously as the app was developed and took off. A refreshing, different plot and great characters - it’s a win for me. 4.5 stars!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟

The Wife App is a clever story about something most wives/partners dream of- outsourcing some of the mental load and physical load of being a wife and mother. Three best friends decide they’re finally done with their ex-husbands taking their work as wives and moms for granted. The writing is well done and the idea is very clever. I read the book quickly and wondered if this app actually exists. I would recommend this to all of my friends.

Thank you #NetGalley and #Simon&Schuster

The idea of an app where you can sign up and then fairly pay someone to do the never ending tasks that seem to traditionally fall on the women, especially in heteronormative relationships, in our society is VERY intriguing. As someone who advocates for Fair Play (the book, the card game, and the act) this concept had me HOOKED!
A piece of what they are doing helps highlight the value of work that often falls to women and hopefully change the way marriage works in our society.

I liked the premise but execution wasn't at 100 for me....I enjoyed reading it and there were some quirky bits that made me laugh. But overall I wanted to love this more than I did.

(I was able to read this book thanks to NetGalley sending me a free eARC. All of the statements above are my own opinions.)

Three best friends reach their breaking point with their ex-husbands taking them for granted as wives and mothers. Determined to turn the tables, they embark on a thrilling journey of monetizing the mental load while sticking it to their exes.

In this engaging tale, we follow the lives of three best friends as they navigate the inaugural year of The Wife App, sparked by one friend's divorce from her unfaithful husband. I thoroughly enjoyed the dynamic between these women, whose contrasting personalities somehow blend harmoniously. The triple point of view is seamlessly handled, with clear chapter headings indicating whose perspective we're delving into. While I can't vouch for the technological accuracy of the app's startup process, the insider peek into that world was undeniably entertaining.

The alternating perspectives of the three women added layers of intrigue and depth to the storyline. Overall, I found this book to be an endearing and enjoyable read, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to others seeking a delightful escape into a world of friendship and empowerment.

This is such a clever book that had me cackling and crying in tandem. A powerful “take back what we lost” narrative that shows strong female friendships along with strong female characters that are relatable, loveable, and wonderfully flawed. The Wife App is sure to be a favorite this year.

book featured here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CuFJCJMrE-n/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

This book was such a joy. I was completely enthralled and loved every page. I binged it over the course of three nights and didn't want it to end!

It's not often enough that we talk about the mental load - the unseen work that goes on behind the scenes. Filling out forms, staying up to date on doctors' appointments, remembering birthdays and buying gifts, meal planning, cycling out the outgrown clothes and swapping in the new items, researching the camps and after school activities, and the list goes on and on. Maybe because I'm in the thick of it right now, but so much of this book resonated with me. Often overwhelmed by the mental load, it was amazing to feel so seen and validated and VALUED!

The Wife App didn't feel preachy to me which is key. I also really connected with the characters, loved their stories, and appreciated how different each of the women were. Each friend really brought something to the table and I loved seeing them shine and come into their own as they each took on different parts of the app and brought it to life.

This was a really clever novel and totally unique. While some parts were a little far fetched and everything seemed to move pretty quickly and easily for them, it was overall a tremendous story and one I really enjoyed.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the copy. I highly recommend!

This is the story of three women in different life situations who are tired of being taken for granted and decide to do something about it. They build an online business to make money from "wife duties". They and their employees do the things that a wife is expected to do and charge for the service. They find that their business is exploding and their lives are changing at the same time. All three women find solutions to their happiness in this wonderfully entertaining story. I look forward to other books by Carolyn Mackler. Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book for my honest opinion.

The Wife App is a creative women's fiction novel, that imbues a lot of social commentary through the characters. Three divorced women create an app where people can outsource the mental load and invisible labor that's traditionally the purview of wives and mothers. Each of the three main characters face different challenges with their children and ex's.

I felt conflicted about this book. On the one hand, it was entertaining to read about three women attempting to receive the value of their time and energy that they spent doing so much of the unseen labor of motherhood and wife-dom. On the other hand, the premise of the book and the execution of the wife app they create seemed slightly tone deaf and simply became a "pay to fix your problems" solution that isn't realistic for so many people . I never really understood the whole revenge on their ex-husbands component, because it wasn't as if the husbands were now having to manage their own lives in any way. A few times various characters bring up the inequalities of a gig economy, and point out the fact that poor women can't afford to use the app, and beyond acknowledging the problem, nothing is really done to fix it (aside from a sliding cost scale that is mentioned).

Things I Liked:
- Sophie's story arc and the surprising relationship she forms by the end
- the dark humor of the tasks the women have to complete through the app
- the premise of the book is creative and original

The book is fiction, not a social doctrine or policy paper on how to resolve inequality. I think the problem is despite the entertainment of this fantasy app and scenario where women can live their best lives, by the end of the book I was just depressed about reality outside the book.

This was such a fun easy read! I can definitely picture this as a Netflix series, along the lines of The Working Moms. Three tipsy best friends decide to come up with “The Wife App” - monetizing tasks that wives tend to take on for free - as a way to get revenge on their ex-husbands. I laughed and commiserated while reading this, so much of it was painfully true, but with an edge of flavorful fiction added to make it even more fun and compelling.

Because every wife deserves a happy ending.

This was my first one by Carolyn Mackler, and it was a light, fun, and entertaining read so I will definitely find more of her books. Even if you are not into romance, this book has so many lovely characters and the side characters have their parts played out in much detail. The story is told through the eyes of three best friends who are navigating life after divorce. None of them are perfect, but they are doing the best they can with their given situations. I will be recommending this book to my friends.


Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚆𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝙰𝚙𝚙
𝙱𝚢 𝙲𝚊𝚛𝚘𝚕𝚢𝚗 𝙼𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚎𝚛
𝙿𝚞𝚋 𝙳𝚊𝚝𝚎: 𝙹𝚞𝚗𝚎 𝟸𝟽, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟹

“Because every wife deserves a happy ending.”

The WifeApp is an incredible idea and I totally wish it was real! In this story we follow the lives of 3 friends, two being already divorced and one recently divorced.
Lauren, Madeline, and Sophie are out one night to celebrate Lauren’s divorce where they start talking about how wives do so much and all for free. A mental load with a lot of stress and takes a lot of work. There is an app for everything out there and that’s when The WifeApp starts to become a great idea that turns into a real thing! With Lauren’s background in tech, Sophie’s great can do it attitude, and Madeline’s trust fund, these friends are a fierce force.

I really enjoyed this book. As a wife and a mom, our mental lists just keep growing and get longer each day. Sometimes our daily duties can make us feel undervalued from our spouses. This book was such a fun and empowering book. If it’s not on your list to read, it really should be!

Thank you @netgalley , @simonandschuster for this gifted copy!

𝐐𝐎𝐓𝐃: 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞?

#thewifeapp #carolynmackler #simonandschuster #netgalley #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookreview #contemporaryfiction #advcancedreadercopy #bookmail #bookish #booksta #booksaremagic #bookaholic #booklover #newrelease #bookworm #bookcommunity #readmorebooks #booksbooksbooks #simonbooksbuddy

I loved the premise of this read - what if you could outsource all the mental load, minutiae of your day, for a cost?

Three friends approaching different transitory periods are struggling in different ways. When this idea pops up, they take a gamble and try running a wife app. When the app starts gaining traction, what does it mean for each of them? and how does it change them?

I enjoyed seeing Sophie, Lauren, and Madeline work through this in their own different ways!

Thank you to Netgalley and to Simon & Schuster for the ARC.