A review by allweatherreader
Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I'm not sure how to review this. I loved Armfield's short stories (Salt Slow) and this wasn't really very much like those; I started and abandoned this a few times before getting into it, and it was just determination to give it a proper try that made me persevere. Once I gave it some proper attention, it wasn't difficult to keep going. It's one of those books in which it feels as though nothing really happens (even though at least two very dramatic things do happen!). It feels mismarketed as a horror, even though the events in it can't really be described another way. It's quiet, and sad, and slow, but beautiful, too, and although I wished for more verve at times, I do believe not everything has to be big and sweeping. Sometimes it can be this. Didn't make a big splash, but is still lurking under the surface.