As many have said, the life of an army wife is never easy. It doesn't come with instructions, and the only help these women got was from other army wives going through the same thing.

Ms.. Gorrindo gives us a personal and inside look at what the wives of soldiers have to deal with daily. It's important to understand that most of the support soldiers get is from their wives and families. Simone Corrindo tells this story very well.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an early copy of The Wives by Simone Gorrindo in exchange for my honest review.


This is the kind of book that makes a person appreciate what soldiers and their families have to sacrifice to choose this line of work. Simone had a successful career in NYC and her boyfriend Andrew had a longtime dream to join the military. After some time Simone agrees to go with Andrew while he pursues this endeavor.


I am not from a military family nor do I personally know anyone actively serving so this lifestyle is completely unknown to me. I had my own preconceived notions, but this book brought up a lot of things I never considered. I never thought about how isolating this must be for the spouses who go to live on a base. It’s interesting to attempt to find community among people where the only thing you have in common is being a military spouse. It brought up some conversations about how the people you have to choose from to interact with might have vastly different worldviews than you, such as a more conservative vs liberal viewpoint.


I find it hard to rate nonfiction/memoirs because it feels like I’m rating the entertainment value of someone's life story. At the same time, I understand that this is a business that needs reviews to help readers know if a book is right for them. This book did take me a long time to get into. A lot of the beginning felt like info-dumping. Some plot points that were brought up and could’ve used more in-depth discussion but that’s me being nitpicky. Otherwise, the story was heartfelt and eye-opening and I’d probably give it 3.5 stars and round up to 4.

This was such an eye opener. Who knew what goes on behind the scenes at the training camps and what anxiety and mental agony the wives go through. It was a well written and thoughtful book and something everyone should read. After all these are the people who keep us and our country safe, including the wives who,most importantly, and under all conditions,support their husbands.

Having been a military wife, although not in an active war time, I found this book hard to read. That being said, we Americans owe a debt of gratitude to those who serve to preserve our freedom and also to their families.

An eye opening look at the life of an army wife.The author shares in an intimate open conversation her real life experiences.She shares her marriage her adjusting to the life of an army wife the friendship and bonds she forms.I have no experience with the army and I really enjoyed learning about their lives.#netgalley #The Wives

The Wives by Simone Gorrindo gives a behind the scenes look at the personal lives of military families. Simone and her boyfriend Andrew are 20somethings living in NYC. Andrew shares his dream to join the military and his intention to enlist and move south whether Simone is onboard or not. Simone has to decide whether her love for Andrew is enough to sustain her as she navigates a whole new way of life.

I thought the author beautifully captured the complexities of military life. She was very honest in her retelling, including really hard and emotionally fraught conversations she had with her husband. I don't think this book would have been as enjoyable or informative had this not been the case. There were certainly times that I was on Simone's "side", but there were just as many instances when I was on Andrew's "side". To me, this speaks to Simone as a good writer and her ability to show all parts of the story, not just hers.

That said, the title and description imply the book is about specific women that become friends. We definitely got to know other spouses and their stories, and we saw how Simone integrated herself into the community, but overall the book felt less about this group of military spouses and more about Simone and her experience. There were actually only 5 or so spouses introduced in detail, and many were not friends.

Some of the most impactful parts of the book were Simone's reckoning with conservative culture stereotypes and the ethics of war. I wish this book was marketed more as a liberal woman's experience as a military spouse and what that meant for her identity and beliefs without reducing the experience to simply being a wife.

It took me a little bit to get into this book, however once I was in I was hooked. Simone is an incredible writer. The questions she's grappling with as she lives as an army wife are some of the same I grapple with around war and the military. Her first hand perspective helped me understand my own beliefs better. I very much appreciated her conversations about the caste system in the lives of military spouses, how spouses are kept informed of actions in active battle zones, and how grueling the life is for both the spouse in the military and their civilian spouse. An excellent book for anyone interested in the lives of the military or simply someone wanting to read excellent writing.

An honest, at times gut-wrenching story that exposes the hidden struggles of military families. Be prepared for a life experience you never dreamed of (unless you are military).

Boy, this book introduced me to a whole 'nother world, a world I have absolutely no experience with. I commend the author for her honesty, her unflinching look at herself, her husband and her marriage, and her sober observations of "The Wives." I slowly grew into this, much like the author did, appreciating the insight and raw emotion that was felt every day. I honestly cannot picture living like this, pretty much on edge for months at a time, unable to get answers or even ask questions. The relationships forged during the family's time in Georgia were honest, realistic, and felt true-to-life.

I finished the book with a new-found respect for our military families, and feel that a long untold story of the glue that holds families together was finally told.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

I really liked this memoir about being a military wife.
Simone is an editor living in NYC but her boyfriend feels called to join the military. They end up moving to Columbus GA where Simone eventually makes friends with the other wives out of desperation.
Of course, they end up sustaining each other.
The book touches on mental health, dv, and alcoholism, but I wish it had said more. The book described scenes but never came back to reflect on them later. It was all a whirlwind. The book had a little more about the transition to including women in special operations units but again, never came back to the topic after that one time it came up.
I also wanted more about the lead up to Trump—Simone and her husband leave Georgia just after Trump is elected.
IMO the book is really good. I wish it were longer.
I’d like to know what people with personal experience—other military spouses —think of it.

Thank you to Net Galley and Simon and Schuster for an early copy of The Wives by Simone Gorrindo

Army wife Simone Gorrindo has shared the high points and great lows of agreeing to a new lifestyle when her husband, Andrew, reveals that he wishes to join the service. Simone is ill-prepared for what this entails as she struggles with the overwhelming anxiety of a new environment ruled by the army, her husband's absences and the dangers they both must live with. She must also navigate the social realm of an army base in her quest to connect with other wives and develop friendships.

Simone and Andrew carry on, not giving up on their relationship even during their darkest times with separation, lack of relevant information from the Army, and lack of support. To their credit, they seek the help of a therapist to help in identifying their problems.

Simone vacillates between great strength and overwhelming anxiety throughout her time at Fort Benning. A particularly difficult pregnancy progressing while her husband is deployed demonstrates what she is made of and does offer her new understandings of perhaps letting go of some of her anxiety.

It will be interesting to read reviews from other Army wives as they also live this life and can identify with Simone Gorrindo's feelings and actions.

Even though this was a book about military wives, I could relate to some of it from being a stay at home mom. I really enjoyed the book. I can't imagine how hard it would be to be a military wife and this was an interesting read about one person's experience.

I loved this book, as I live in columbus,georgia, it was very interesting. a great story of an army wife.

A well-written chronicle of the life of (at least one) military wife. Easy to resonate with Ms Gorrindo, even when I don't have any of the same background. A very different viewpoint for the miltiary

Loved this book; well-written account of the sacrifice and daily life of an army wife. The author speaks from experience about the daily anxiety, experiences and her effort to support her husband as he enlists in a Special Ops unit at Fort Benning. I appreciated being educated about the challenges one lives when it involves having your husband overseas in combat, as well as away in training with their unit.
Solidly written, solid storyline and a unique perspective of a topic everyone should read about as these men & women commit to a lifestyle that offers the rest of us a peaceful place in our own life.

"The Wives" by Simone Gorrindo is a compelling memoir that chronicles the author's journey through marriage, motherhood, and the quest for self-discovery. Gorrindo navigates the complexities of modern womanhood with candor, exploring the challenges of societal expectations and personal fulfillment. Her narrative is both intimate and thought-provoking, delving into themes of identity, ambition, and the pursuit of authenticity. Gorrindo's writing is powerful and evocative, inviting readers to reflect on their own lives. "The Wives" is not only a personal memoir but also a universal exploration of the intricate balance between societal roles and individual aspirations.

This book The Military Wives is a powerful memoir about the wives of the men in the Army. Not knowing any military wives but one whose husband is in the coast guard, I know very little but this book is believable and I can only imagine how hard this life is! I think this author did a great job honoring the spouses in the military. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published April 2024.

The Army wife has a special place in the military and in the readiness of our armed forces. The Wives by Simone Gorrindo. Thank you #NetGalley for the digital ARC, takes us on her journey of dealing with the mundane to the terrifying aspects of living with a spouse on active duty.

This was an interesting read. It was interesting to read about the life’s of military wife’s.
Thank you NetGalley, Simone and Gallery Books for the ARC!

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked this one up. I can’t identify with the experiences of a military wife. Still, I am a military mom of two, so I feel I have some knowledge of the sacrifices faced by military families. The lack of communication and the general anxiety felt when the world gets dangerous –are things familiar to me. This was an intriguing look at the life of a military wife, with all the difficulties and stress associated with having a spouse on deployment. I did feel, however, a pervasive sense of condescension throughout the book – as if the author only barely tolerated these other wives, especially those of enlisted men. It left me with a little bit of an uncomfortable feeling. The book highlighted the stresses of having a spouse in the military, especially one deployed for long periods. It made me grateful for those who serve faithfully next to their military spouses. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author, for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.