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Christine A. (965 KP) rated The Wife in Books

Sep 9, 2020

The Wife

Shalini Boland | 2020 | Mystery, Thriller

8.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Their 10th wedding anniversary should be something to celebrate. Why does Zoe only feel dread?

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. The opinions are entirely my own, and any quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.

After reading the synopsis of The Wife by Shalini Boland, I knew I wanted to read it. A bride faints on her wedding day while getting ready. She wakes to a massive headache and no memory of fainting or what led up to it. Everyone said she must have been overcome with emotion, but nothing felt right afterward. Fast forward ten years and Zoe is planning an anniversary party. As the anniversary draws closer, the people around her are acting strangely. If she finds out what happened during the missing time, will it ruin the life she built?

I know, right? Sound good, doesn't it? Well, when I started reading it, I was disappointed. I thought I had everything figured out but was still enjoying the story. Then, wait, what? The story becomes intriguing and pulls you in and does not let go. It is not the fluffy and straightforward story I thought it was. It is a thriller worth reading.

Although Boland herself says she writes "suspense thrillers and dark adventures," I had not read any of her work previously. Her novels are rated around four stars on Goodreads, and I will be reading more of her work soon.

This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 9/9/20.

Kudos

Eleanor Luhar (47 KP) rated Highland Fling in Books

Jun 24, 2019

I can't say there are many classic novels that I've really enjoyed, but I was pleasantly surprised by this book when I really focused on it. It is a comedy, and I was a bit concerned that I wouldn't appreciate the humour as the book was originally published back in 1931. I will admit that I maybe didn't enjoy it as much as I could have, but I did quite like it and find it quite interesting.

It follows Albert Gates, an artist who has moved to Paris, as he accompanies friends to Dalloch Castle in the Scottish Highlands. He meets Jane there, and they bond while irritating the other guests to keep themselves amused. The friends of Albert's, Sally and Walter, have their own happenings both during the holiday and after returning home.

Albert opens an art exhibition that receives more attention than Jane anticipated, and Jane starts to panic. Is there a wedding on the horizon, or will Albert be going back to Paris alone?

This actually has some rather dramatic moments, including a fire that strikes in the night. The characters are all very different, such as the foreigner-hating General Murgatroyd (whom Albert takes great joy in winding up). At first, I really wasn't taken with this book. But when I sat and really read it, I actually did start to enjoy it.

I really don't read books like this usually, and I wasn't sure how much I would like it. But it is a good book, and I definitely recommend it for lovers of classics or similar genres to this. 3 to 3.5 stars.