Reviews

The Echo Wife, by Sarah Gailey

billyzigz's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-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

4.0

docaphra's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

acarter's review against another edition

4.0

Gailley is so consistently fun and freaky in all the best ways. Love this prickly protagonist, love the world of clones, loved the  increasingly tense look at the sacrifices women make in order to participate in marriage, motherhood, and the professional world.

gavinj90's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.5

minaahlaw's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

1.5

sirius_feanor's review against another edition

3.75

This was not what I expected from the premise. The story was even better.
I thought I would hate the second wife, but Nathan is such a piece of human garbage, I can't even.

stacyshookter's review against another edition

3.0

This is a tough one for me to rate. The premise is great and I was so intrigued what would happen. I hoped for more action and shocking twists. It was more character driven than plot driven which isn’t typically my choice so the 3 stars is more personal preference.

libilee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

Not usually a fan of the morally gray, unreliable narrator, but The Echo Wife does it right. Instead of a snarky edgelord, the main character is a brilliant, intimidating, middle aged scientist who has been done so very wrong by her (ex)husband. This is hard science fiction with a human plot, and the only innocents in this novel were designed that way. Sarah Gailey deserves to be shelved next to Mary Shelley.

katybug25's review against another edition

4.0

This was recommended to me by a friend, and is also one of the book club books for our library. I liked the concepts in this book, but will say that all of the characters are pretty awful (this actually added to my enjoyment, since it gave everyone more humanity).
The Echo Wife raises good questions on the morality of cloning in a world where clones are used as tools for politicians (body doubles, etc.). What makes a person? How are clones not considered human, if they react and act human? Are we not all programmed in some way? The themes of identity, cycles of abuse, and expectations placed on women were very interesting. I think there will be a lot of material for our book club to discuss.

tarah_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0