sashahc's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I just finished “The Echo Wife” by Sarah Gailey. I don’t know if I’ve ever read a main character so simultaneously horrifying and compelling. There was nothing heart warming about this book, and it uncomfortably plausible near future SFF, but it was really good and I stayed up way too late reading it.
bookswithcori's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
beelzebean's review against another edition
4.0
It was really difficult to rate this book. I originally wanted to give it three stars, but I decided to give it a fourth because the premise was creative and held my attention. Perhaps I'd truly rate it 3 1/2 stars.
onceuponatrope's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
1morepaige's review against another edition
5.0
Edit: OMFG the cover is so perfect
I can’t wait to buy a pretty hardcover copy for my shelf
sukhlovesreading's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
richard7891's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
rrickman33's review against another edition
4.0
Wheeeeew this book y'all... this was deeeeeep. The Echo Wife is a sci-fi meets The Husband's Secret book following Evelyn Caldwell. She just won a prestigious award for her cloning technology when she gets a call from Martine, her clone. Her ex-husband is dead, can Evelyn come help Martine with the body please? I MEAN WHAT.
This book was SO much more than a sci-fi or domestic drama. It looked at life full circle, what really makes you you? Your physical traits, that scar you have? How you speak, those funny words only you use? How do you perfectly clone everything that makes someone who they are and are destined to stick to who we are or can we really, meaningfully, change? Also we got to explore the idea that we may be destined to become like our parents whether we really want to or not. The good old nature vs nurture debate is alive and well in The Echo Wife.
There was also so much on the theme of desire. Evelyn does not want children and it's not something she'll change her mind on. She wants to fully focus on her cloning research for her entire life with no interruptions. Her ex-husband wanted a child more than anything in the world, more than Evelyn apparently. This theme was explored so beautifully and so well. We rarely get to see women that are child-free by choice in books AND I LOVED IT. The story-telling style in this book was super unique, there was so much character building for Evelyn I really knew who she was.
Overall, it may not be for everyone because of how science heavy it was but if you like science or are interested in how cloning people could mess up everything in our world, then give this one a read!
This book was SO much more than a sci-fi or domestic drama. It looked at life full circle, what really makes you you? Your physical traits, that scar you have? How you speak, those funny words only you use? How do you perfectly clone everything that makes someone who they are and are destined to stick to who we are or can we really, meaningfully, change? Also we got to explore the idea that we may be destined to become like our parents whether we really want to or not. The good old nature vs nurture debate is alive and well in The Echo Wife.
There was also so much on the theme of desire. Evelyn does not want children and it's not something she'll change her mind on. She wants to fully focus on her cloning research for her entire life with no interruptions. Her ex-husband wanted a child more than anything in the world, more than Evelyn apparently. This theme was explored so beautifully and so well. We rarely get to see women that are child-free by choice in books AND I LOVED IT. The story-telling style in this book was super unique, there was so much character building for Evelyn I really knew who she was.
Overall, it may not be for everyone because of how science heavy it was but if you like science or are interested in how cloning people could mess up everything in our world, then give this one a read!
mayaperkins's review against another edition
4.0
Things I enjoyed:
- the portrayal of hurt girl boss going through her emotions from being betrayed by everyone (especially after reading the acknowledgments, you know this author's been through some real shit)
- world setting where human cloning is somewhat ethically accepted
- the relationship/understanding developed between the main character and her clone
- the drama
- the parallel ending
Things I didn't enjoy:
- a lot of scientific jibber jabber that I don't even know is correct or not
- main character flip-flopping on how she feels about the people that betrayed her
- couldn't understand the motive for the actions made by husband Nick
- despite the drama not a lot happened in the end
- the portrayal of hurt girl boss going through her emotions from being betrayed by everyone (especially after reading the acknowledgments, you know this author's been through some real shit)
- world setting where human cloning is somewhat ethically accepted
- the relationship/understanding developed between the main character and her clone
- the drama
- the parallel ending
Things I didn't enjoy:
- a lot of scientific jibber jabber that I don't even know is correct or not
- main character flip-flopping on how she feels about the people that betrayed her
- couldn't understand the motive for the actions made by husband Nick
- despite the drama not a lot happened in the end
sunfishe's review against another edition
3.5
Very interesting take on cloning, entertaining drama and delightfully morally corrupt narrator