The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


When I listen to an audiobook instead of reading the actual novel, I feel the need to start my review by announcing this. So hi, I listened to this book. And while I enjoyed listening to it, I will likely cut myself off cold turkey from this method of ingesting literature because I don’t think I am able to immerse myself as much in the storyline or develop as much of a connection to the characters - multitasking is clearly not my strongest quality. Plus, I somehow lose all concept of how far along I actually am. For example, I predicted the first major PLOT TWIST! (no applause necessary), and after that big reveal, I thought everything was about to wrap up. Turns out I had over 5 hours of listening left... Opps. UPDATE: Just kidding about cutting myself off from Audible. Silly, naïve Nicole of 2017..LOLZ.

While I liked this novel, I am having a hard time feeling completely satisfied. I appreciate the fact that it kept me on my toes, but I can’t help feeling as though something was “missing”. How that is possible considering at any given time there were multiple thought provoking storylines developing, I’m not sure. There were elements that screamed cliche domestic thriller novel so loud I made an appointment with the nearest ENT (wealthy and charismatic turned controlling and abusive husband anyone?), but there were others that felt sharp and refreshing (Vanessa’s ingenious “escape” plan).

It almost seemed as though three novels decided to make love and merge into one, which made for an engrossing, but at times not fully fleshed out experience for the reader. The author obviously had a very successful brainstorming session and couldn’t decide which crafty plot twist to abandon - so she included all of them in one dense little novel. Maybe it was BECAUSE there were so many elements and layers that I was never able to really connect to any one of them, therefore none struck an emotional chord with my cold, black heart.

But let’s talk about the epilogue. That. Was. Awesome. Well done (insert clapping hands emoji). I tend to be a sucker for epilogues as a general rule, but this one tied this sometimes scattered narrative together with a clever little bow.



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