Book Review: THE YOUNGER WIFE by Sally Hepworth

        

THE YOUNGER WIFE

by

Sally Hepworth

THE YOUNGER WIFE

Author: Sally Hepworth

Australian Publication Date: October 26, 2021

Publisher: Macmillan Australia

***
About the Book

The moment she laid eyes on Heather Wisher, Tully knew this woman was going to destroy their lives.

Tully and Rachel are murderous when they discover their father has a new girlfriend. The fact that Heather is half his age isn't even the most shocking part. Stephen is still married to their mother, who is in a care facility with end-stage Alzheimer's disease.

Heather knows she has an uphill battle to win Tully and Rachel over, while carrying the burden of the secrets of her past. But, as it turns out, they are all hiding something.

The announcement of Stephen and Heather's engagement threatens to set off a family implosion, with old wounds and dark secrets finally being forced to the surface.

A garage full of stolen goods. An old hot-water bottle, stuffed with cash. A blood-soaked wedding. And that's only the beginning . . .

***

My Thoughts

Gossips, busybodies and scandalmongers ... gather ’round! Have you heard what’s going on with the Astons? Not only is patriarch Stephen Aston engaged to marry a woman who is younger than his daughters, but the rest of the family seem to be falling apart at the seams as well!

It is in this somewhat light-hearted vein that I took a drink and my copy of THE YOUNGER WIFE and sat outside in the wonderful sunshine (at least in my neighbourhood) to read from cover to cover this highly entertaining story.

It was a pleasure to read this book. Reading about each character’s idiosyncrasies and their reactions as personal and family secrets are revealed kept me engaged from start to finish. The chapters, told from various characters’ points of view, allowed us to gain insight into things that happen and also see how they might look differently to others.

This book does tackle serious issues including domestic violence, sexual assault, food addiction and, dementia just to name a few. If I had picked this book up on a day I was in a more serious frame of mind, I might have struggled with the way in which some of these issues were handled. Having said that, I think the book well encapsulates the helplessness and loss of control by characters; I was easily able to empathise with them.

Hepworth’s breezy writing style, a good number of twists and interesting characters makes THE YOUNGER WIFE a diverting read.

Review copy courtesy of the publisher, Macmillan Australia.

***

About the Author

Sally Hepworth is the New York Times bestselling author of six novels, most recently The Good Sister (2020), which was an instant bestseller. Her novel, The Mother-In-Law (2019) has been optioned for a TV series by Hollywood actress and producer, Amy Poehler.

Drawing on the good, the bad and the downright odd of human behaviour, Sally writes incisively about family, relationships and identity. Her domestic thriller novels are laced with quirky humour, sass and a darkly charming tone.
Sally's novels are available worldwide in English and have been translated into 20 languages.

Sally lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband, three children and one adorable dog.

https://www.sallyhepworthauthor.com/