The Younger Wife

I love Sally Hepworth and have read all her books. She is the master of domestic suspense that has a hearty nod to family dysfunction but (and I hate to admit this), I didn't love this one quite as much as her other books. 

It starts off strong with the story being told by three POVs - sisters Rachel and Tully and Heather, their new stepmom. Tension builds nicely but as the story picks up, dysfunction after dysfunction is heaped onto this family. They were great, relevant topics, but it was too much, and not enough time or depth was given to any of the issues.

Hepworth casts doubt with a few red herrings, but the reasons for the twists and decisions of the characters felt weak, unsubstantiated and it felt like the story undermined some important issues. Everyone was a hot mess with emotional baggage up the wazoo and I didn't like how the men come off unscathed while the women are portrayed as weak and easy to gaslight. There were also some unbelievable plot points (the hot water bottle and the cake fix) that felt out of place and didn't add to the story.

The Younger Wife had enough to keep me turning the pages, but it was too much domestic drama and only a teaser of a thriller that led to an unsatisfying ending after all the bluster leading up to it. Sally Hepworth continues to be one of my auto-read authors and while this book didn't quite meet my expectations, I eagerly look forward to more from Sally in the future.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to St Martin's Press for my complimentary digital copy of this title given in exchange for my honest review.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Author: Sally Hepworth

Genre: Suspense, Contemporary Fiction

Type and Source: eBook from publisher

Publisher: St Martin's Press

First Published: April 5, 2022

Opening Line: I always cry at weddings.

Book Description from GoodReads: 

THE HUSBAND

A heart surgeon at the top of his field, Stephen Aston is getting married again. But first he must divorce his current wife, even though she can no longer speak for herself.

THE DAUGHTERS
Tully and Rachel Aston look upon their father’s fiancée, Heather, as nothing but an interloper. Heather is younger than both of them. Clearly, she’s after their father’s money.

THE FORMER WIFE
With their mother in a precarious position, Tully and Rachel are determined to get to the truth about their family’s secrets, the new wife closing in, and who their father really is.

THE YOUNGER WIFE
Heather has secrets of her own. Will getting to the truth unleash the most dangerous impulses in all of them?