The Wives – Review – Ashes Books & Bobs

Many thanks to Harlequin/Graydon House & Netgalley for a review copy.

It’s no secret I’m a huge Tarryn Fisher fan and The Wives was among my most highly anticipated releases for 2019. I could hardly contain my excitement when I saw I had the chance to read it early! I tossed my TBR to the wind and got started.

BLURB:

Imagine that your husband has two other wives.

You’ve never met the other wives. None of you know each other, and because of this unconventional arrangement, you can see your husband only one day a week. But you love him so much you don’t care. Or at least that’s what you’ve told yourself.

But one day, while you’re doing laundry, you find a scrap of paper in his pocket—an appointment reminder for a woman named Hannah, and you just know it’s another of the wives.

You thought you were fine with your arrangement, but you can’t help yourself: you track her down, and, under false pretenses, you strike up a friendship. Hannah has no idea who you really are. Then, Hannah starts showing up to your coffee dates with telltale bruises, and you realize she’s being abused by her husband. Who, of course, is also your husband. But you’ve never known him to be violent, ever.

This will be among one of the most difficult books to review, simply because I want to be exceptionally careful about the details I reveal. The idea of spoiling this book in the least for someone would be a huge injustice.

First, I have to say, upon finishing this book I was utterly speechless. I have never had my mind blown in such an unbelievable way by a book prior to reading The Wives. I know Tarryn is known for twisty endings, having read all of her books, but I could never have predicted what was to come with this story. As I clicked the “I’m finished with this book” button on Goodreads, I had a moment of uncertainty. I did not know how to rate this novel. I had to wrack my brain for any plot holes or things I might have missed to give an indication the book would end in the way it did. I wondered if I was satisfied with the conclusion or simply impressed by the unpredictability. As I’ve reflected upon the book, I realized I could give it no less than five stars. This is Tarryn Fisher’s best work. The writing is clear and concise with no wasted words. Every moment is used in propelling the story forward, growing the characters, or revealing an important plot point.

Clearly, the main purpose of this story is shock and awe in the end, which is unquestionably achieved, but the book as a whole is a page-turner. My attention was grabbed from the very first page, and I desperately needed to know what would be following. I felt the main character’s compulsive need for explanations and the desperation of her situation. I never knew what was going to happen next, which is a huge feat for this genre. I anxiously turned the pages until one in the morning, needing my own questions answered.

Yet, I’m not one hundred percent sure I loved the ending of this story, but I’m impressed by it nonetheless. I had hoped things might work out a little differently. However, I immediately wanted to turn back to the beginning and start over the moment I finished. Any book that absorbs me in such a manner has to receive my highest recommendation and rating.

Well done, Tarryn.

Preorder The Wives to be delivered on December 30th.
Amazon Link.