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nightstand_reads's review against another edition
3.0
Intriguing how characters and events were connected and kept my interest but was glad when it was over.
tarapollardyork's review against another edition
4.0
This book kept me on my toes and interested but at the very end it got ridiculous with its twists and trying to shock. I never really did like a single character that much either but all in all was really good and kept my interest!
u233634's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
nefeli's review against another edition
Instead of explaining the reasons why I disliked My Husband's Wife, I'll share a few excerpts.
Spoilers ahead.
Yes. People do that all the time.
If you were really content with your own company, then you wouldn't have agreed to marry a man you barely know after two dates.
He simply asked if you're visiting someone in prison. Which you are. As his lawyer. You don't have to be a do-gooder who 'befriends the wicked' in order to visit someone in prison.
First of all, you don't know that he's a murderer. Second of all, why wouldn't a murderer look after goldfish?
The reason you feel shocked and like you don't know him at all, is because you don't know him at all. You've been on two dates and married for a month.
This is a convice that's setting up little challenges for his lawyer and if she passes the tests, then he'll deem her worthy enough to handle his case. I hoped she would just quit and leave him to play games by himself in prison but, alas, that doesn't happen.
These people are supposed to be adults.
You can. And he did.
Are you telling me that in all your life you've only loved your husband, your brother and a horse?
If anything, shouldn't the fact that you could hear the TV through the walls actually prove that you could definitely hear screams through the walls? I don't think Tony is as good as you think.
But this isn't real life, it's a book, in which the coincidences are contrived.
Okay, but this is a magazine. No matter where you open it there's going to be two pages, the left one and the right one. One odd-numbered and one even-numbered. How will this work?
Let's give him an award for the gesture doing housework in his own fucking house.
You sound like terrible parents.
I actually agree with this.
Spoilers ahead.
"Can a man ever be friends with a woman when the relationship is over?"
Yes. People do that all the time.
"I find this unnerving. Not so long ago, I was independent. Content with my own company. But from the minute that Ed and I first spoke at that party six months ago (just six months!), I've felt both strengthened and weakened at the same time."
If you were really content with your own company, then you wouldn't have agreed to marry a man you barely know after two dates.
"'Ta.' His voice is pleased but his eyes troubled. 'Prison visiting, are you?'
I hesitate. Is that what he has me down as? One of those do-gooders who feel it's their duty to befriend the wicked?"
He simply asked if you're visiting someone in prison. Which you are. As his lawyer. You don't have to be a do-gooder who 'befriends the wicked' in order to visit someone in prison.
"Three men are waiting, as if loitering on a street. They all stare. A fourth man is busy cleaning out a goldfish tank, his back to us. It strikes me as being incongruous -murderers looking after goldfish?"
First of all, you don't know that he's a murderer. Second of all, why wouldn't a murderer look after goldfish?
"Ed's hand grips mine so hard that it hurts. Then he releases me and moves away. 'Lily's got a headache.'
No, I haven't, I almost say.
[...]
I stand back, shocked. Despite his ups and downs, Ed has never shouted at me before."
The reason you feel shocked and like you don't know him at all, is because you don't know him at all. You've been on two dates and married for a month.
"'Why couldn't you just have told me about the boiler figures at the start? It would have saved a lot of time.'
'I told you before. I had to set you the clues to see if you were bright enough to handle my case. I must have someone who's on my level for this. Someone on the ball.'"
This is a convice that's setting up little challenges for his lawyer and if she passes the tests, then he'll deem her worthy enough to handle his case. I hoped she would just quit and leave him to play games by himself in prison but, alas, that doesn't happen.
"There was a sigh. 'Davina is going round telling everyone that she had a drink with Ed last Tuesday. I'm sure it's nothing. Look, maybe I shouldn't have said anything. But if I were you, I'd do something about it.'
'What?' My voice came out like a croak.
'Have her to dinner this very week. Have lots of people to dinner. Show her you're a couple.'"
These people are supposed to be adults.
"As we go out of the room, I shoot Joe an 'I'm sorry' look. I can't help it. His reaction to the note has helped to convince me once and for all that he's innocent. You can't fake that kind of thing."
You can. And he did.
"It seems to me that I stain whoever I try to love. Daniel, Daniel's horse, Ed... Who is next?"
Are you telling me that in all your life you've only loved your husband, your brother and a horse?
'Can you describe your new neighbours, Mr. and Mrs. Jones?' Tony asks.
The young man sighs audibly. 'Difficult. We complained about the noise of their television. First to them, but when they ignored us, we wrote to the council, but nothing's changed. It's become completely unbearable. We've put in for another place.'
'Would you believe their claims of hearing screaming from the deceased's home?'
'Frankly, I'd be surprised if they could hear anything above the sound of their television.'
I knew Tony was good. But not this good.
If anything, shouldn't the fact that you could hear the TV through the walls actually prove that you could definitely hear screams through the walls? I don't think Tony is as good as you think.
"Coincidences are one of those things which sound contrived until they happen in real life."
But this isn't real life, it's a book, in which the coincidences are contrived.
"A decision has to be made. One way or the other. A coin. Daniel used to toss a coin when he didn't know what to do. I pick up a magazine that I've left by the side of the bath. If I open on a page with an odd number, I'll leave. If it's even, I'll stay."
Okay, but this is a magazine. No matter where you open it there's going to be two pages, the left one and the right one. One odd-numbered and one even-numbered. How will this work?
"Now he's at home during the day, he's started doing the housework while searching for a new job -something I'm sure his traditional parents would be shocked at. He doesn't do it as well as I would, but I appreciate the gesture."
Let's give him an award for the gesture doing housework in his own fucking house.
Tom had been allowed to go to the local school, despite his special needs; partly because of our local connections, and partly because we'd argued that we wanted him to be in mainstream schooling. If he was with others 'like him', Ed had argued, Tom wouldn't have any role models to help him improve.
You sound like terrible parents.
"Besides, who wants an unfaithful husband? Good-quality wine glasses are far more useful."
I actually agree with this.
tearead's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
cornmaven's review against another edition
5.0
i received an advance reader's copy of this novel, so many thanks to Viking for making that happen through NetGalley.
An AMAZING psychological thriller about a young lawyer without great self-esteem who hastily marries an artist, only to soon discover his controlling nature, alcoholism, and the real reason he married her. As she navigates this muddy water, she is thrown onto a murder appeal that brings both danger and tremendous professional success to her life. Add in her husband's muse, a little Italian girl, herself struggling with self-confidence, and you have the makings of a page turner.
The story starts off rather eerily - the inner mind of someone who has been attacked and is dying. This person's story is revisited in snippets along the way, until the Corry gives the full reveal toward the end. I loved the back and forth in time manner of storytelling which she used along with chapters narrated by each main character. The same event/scene is retold sometimes from each perspective, and it was seamless. It is set in England, so American readers will need to get comfortable with the British barrister/solicitor system, but it is not that hard, nor are there British words that will stump anyone.
Will the reader love Ed, Carla, and/or Lily? What to make of Lily's refusal to talk about or face the truth about her brother Daniel's death? Lots to talk about here for book clubs.
Highly recommended.
An AMAZING psychological thriller about a young lawyer without great self-esteem who hastily marries an artist, only to soon discover his controlling nature, alcoholism, and the real reason he married her. As she navigates this muddy water, she is thrown onto a murder appeal that brings both danger and tremendous professional success to her life. Add in her husband's muse, a little Italian girl, herself struggling with self-confidence, and you have the makings of a page turner.
The story starts off rather eerily - the inner mind of someone who has been attacked and is dying. This person's story is revisited in snippets along the way, until the Corry gives the full reveal toward the end. I loved the back and forth in time manner of storytelling which she used along with chapters narrated by each main character. The same event/scene is retold sometimes from each perspective, and it was seamless. It is set in England, so American readers will need to get comfortable with the British barrister/solicitor system, but it is not that hard, nor are there British words that will stump anyone.
Will the reader love Ed, Carla, and/or Lily? What to make of Lily's refusal to talk about or face the truth about her brother Daniel's death? Lots to talk about here for book clubs.
Highly recommended.
stephroni456's review against another edition
2.0
I picked up this book in the thrift store because it looked interesting. Unfortunately, this book was just not for me. This seems like more of a criminal fiction book, and I cannot seem to get into those. While I did think the beginning was interesting, I think the book could've ended before part 2 that goes into the future. I'm not sure what else to say about this one, but I would not recommend it.
jenna_lamers's review against another edition
3.0
Lily is determined to start her life as a wife. She and her husband Ed have started their married life together in London. He’s an artist trying to make a name for himself and she is a young lawyer.
Lily takes on her first case as a defence lawyer for Joe Thomas, a man convicted of murdering his girlfriend. Lily finds herself strangely drawn to Joe, he reminds her of her late brother. She finds herself wanting to prove herself and is willing to do almost anything to help this case.
Carla is nine years old and is the next door neighbour to Lily and Ed.
She learns at a very young age that secrets are very powerful things. She can use other people’s secrets to get what she wants.
12 years later and Carla has mastered the act of manipulation. She is young, beautiful, and determined.
She tracks down Lily and Ed and a chain of events ranging from infidelity, lies, secrets, and murder all come into play.
Is anyone really innocent? Or was this just a mix of all things unfortunate?
This was a tough read for me. I find it didn’t reel me in right away and was very slow burn. Things didn’t really pick up until the end. I personally found that some background information wasn’t necessary for the story. I did enjoy that the book was from two separate points of view- Carla’s and Lillys. It gave two interesting perspectives.
Lily takes on her first case as a defence lawyer for Joe Thomas, a man convicted of murdering his girlfriend. Lily finds herself strangely drawn to Joe, he reminds her of her late brother. She finds herself wanting to prove herself and is willing to do almost anything to help this case.
Carla is nine years old and is the next door neighbour to Lily and Ed.
She learns at a very young age that secrets are very powerful things. She can use other people’s secrets to get what she wants.
12 years later and Carla has mastered the act of manipulation. She is young, beautiful, and determined.
She tracks down Lily and Ed and a chain of events ranging from infidelity, lies, secrets, and murder all come into play.
Is anyone really innocent? Or was this just a mix of all things unfortunate?
This was a tough read for me. I find it didn’t reel me in right away and was very slow burn. Things didn’t really pick up until the end. I personally found that some background information wasn’t necessary for the story. I did enjoy that the book was from two separate points of view- Carla’s and Lillys. It gave two interesting perspectives.
creepylilbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
“We all want something better from time to time. But if we stopped to appreciate what we’ve got, the world might be a better place.”
⚰️ Mini Review ⚰️
This one has been sitting on my shelf for what seems like ages! The title is what caught my eye first and then I read “thriller” so say no more! This will definitely have you questioning your morals about who is a good person, it anyone in this story. Some parts really made my jaw hit the floor. A very good read!
⚰️ Mini Review ⚰️
This one has been sitting on my shelf for what seems like ages! The title is what caught my eye first and then I read “thriller” so say no more! This will definitely have you questioning your morals about who is a good person, it anyone in this story. Some parts really made my jaw hit the floor. A very good read!