The Wife

To be completely upfront and fair, I really think this book deserves 4.5 stars and I know that some people will LOVE it and go all the way to rate it 5 stars. With that being said, I enjoyed the book immensely up until the very twisted ending, which I’m still trying to work out. I will also say that I listened to this as an audiobook and the reader was very compelling and I blew right through it!

*

Angela Powell has a dark and awful past that she bravely survived as a teenager and now only hopes to live a boring, simple life with her husband and son, and most importantly keep her secrets buried. Living her life in Manhattan, away from her hometown in East Hampton where everyone knows her, Angela is content. That is until her husband’s burgeoning career casts him and his family into the spotlight. Positive attention for his liberal career and goals was fine, but now her husband, Jason, is being accused of the unforgivable and the past comes flying to the forefront of Angela’s life. Will she keep her secrets? Will she protect her husband?

*

Just from the title, The Wife, I was rooting for Angela. She was an inspiration, strong, and capable of rising above her past. She was reserved but happy and a good mother. The obvious seemed so obvious, but like most suspense novels, things are not as they seem. Layer upon layer is revealed as Angela delves into her past and her husband is scrutinized by the public eye, which set the scene perfectly for surprises and unexpected turns.

*

I enjoyed the steady pace of the writing, the carefully unveiled secrets, and the main character’s complexity but relatability. Also, the subject matter is so relevant. The reader gets to see all sides of a powerful man with a seemingly perfect marriage being accused of the unthinkable and there’s even a look into the detective work that should go into a situation like this. 

*

BUT the ending! I won’t give away any spoilers but I have a few feelings about the ending of this book. One, I just wasn’t expecting any of it and I can’t tell if that makes it unbelievable or completely believable! Two, my feelings for the main character are just all over the place! I don’t know how I feel about her. I’m rating this book three stars but I have a feeling the more I think about it and as time goes by, that may change. I just don’t know which direction it will go in. I would love to hear what some other people thought of it.

*

Overall, I really enjoyed the writing. The author does an excellent job of bringing the characters to life with a ton of carefully crafted details that are skillfully placed. The reader isn’t overwhelmed and quickly gets invested in the story.