I wasn’t really sure about The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen when I originally picked it out. I couldn’t figure out if it was chick lit or women’s fiction; the difference is important to me. Don’t misunderstand, I am not a snob about it. I enjoy both styles. However, I wasn’t in the mood for chick lit. I wanted something that didn’t require a highlighter, but had some teeth to it.
I also needed to clean my house. I didn’t have all day to figure this out. Because I am attempting to be a more focused reader and writer, I dusted off my Goodreads app and (after I reset the password I couldn’t remember and handled the barrage of notifications I hadn’t answered) peeked at the suggestions from one my neglected reading groups.
Each month, Bound Together has three category of books: one Member Choice title and two “find a title that fits.” In January, Beneath a Scarlet Sky was the Member Choice. As I am still trying to get through The Tattooist of Auschwitz, I passed. “Off the Shelf” was to read a work that had something magical about the story or cover. I was not feeling it. “Author Read” did not designate a particular author this month. Instead, it required that the book be written by two people – with both their names presented on the book. I scrolled through the comments and someone suggested The Wife Between Us. What the hell, I needed to get on with my day so I spent the Audible credit and moved on.
My. House. Is. So. Clean. Seriously, I organized the armoire, cleaned out the pantry, decluttered the office, caught up the laundry – all of it. For two days I found reasons not to sit down so I could justify leaving the book playing in my ear.
Vanessa and Richard are recently divorced. Nelly and Richard are getting married. Vanessa is having a hard time holding her new job and controlling her booze. Nelly is preparing to transition to a whole other life. Vanessa is completely preoccupied with the woman Richard has replaced her for. Nelly swears someone is following her. Aunt Charolette and Sam are side-eyeing the whole thing.
Two things. First, if you think you know what you are getting into based on that synopsis, you would be wrong. Second, I can’t really tell you anything else without spoilers.
This is probably the most fun I’ve had listening to a book in a while. There was constant tension between the characters and in my own head. The authors gave just enough so that I knew there was something else going on and, if I didn’t figure it out, they were going to get me. There were moments I thought I had it. I didn’t, and they did, in fact, get me with the “holy shit where did THAT come from.” Then the real neat thing happened – the story didn’t end. They. Just. Kept. Doing. It. Even in the Epilogue.