The Review

After finishing “An Honest Lie” by Tarryn Fisher, I was intrigued to see the audiobook of “The Wives” was available to check out on Libby. I only rated “An Honest Lie” a 3/5 stars, but I heard “The Wives” is the far superior novel and I must say, it was quite a captivating read. From the very beginning, I was hooked by its devilish and mind-bending plot. The fast-paced nature of the story kept me on the edge of my seat. Every time I thought I knew what would happen, another curve ball was thrown into the mix.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed the book, there were a few aspects that didn’t quite resonate with me. I found it challenging to connect with the heroine and accept the polygamous arrangement portrayed in the story. The polyamory of Thursday’s relationship wasn’t an ick to me, but how the majority of problems with her husband Seth could have been easily solved if they communicated better. Despite this, the clever and unpredictable nature of the psychological thriller kept me engaged throughout.

Continuing with the audiobook, I found myself alternating between fascination and horror. The twisted and manipulative elements in the second half of the story were captivating, even if they left me feeling conflicted. In “An Honest Lie,” Fisher established the narrator’s point of view as trustworthy, revealing significant background trauma early in the novel. Therefore, for the first half of “The Wives,” I assumed Fisher maintained the same writing technique, presenting Thursday as a reliable narrator. As we delved deeper into the second half, I became unsure of what to believe anymore. What was real and what was fabricated?

Honestly, I couldn’t bring myself to pause the audiobook of ‘The Wives.’ The fast pace, intrigue, and surprising revelations kept me thoroughly engrossed. Although there were moments in the second half that didn’t entirely satisfy me, such as my initial ending guess turning out to be correct, I admired the author’s ability to gaslight me and the overall unpredictability of the plot.

Unlike “An Honest Lie,” I wholeheartedly recommend “The Wives.” The dark and complex storyline drew me in, evoking discomfort and uneasiness as I questioned the characters’ motives. As for the narration, Lauren Fortgang did a fabulous job, making me more protective of Thursday than if I had read the novel myself. Although I initially struggled with the writing style, I soon realized it was perfectly suited to the story, adding to the unique commentary on jealousy, polygamy, manipulation, and abuse.

In conclusion, my experience with ‘The Wives’ was filled with intrigue and surprises. The book had its strengths and weaknesses, but it undeniably left an impact. If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers with a dash of the unexpected, I would certainly recommend giving it a read.

4 out of 5 Stars!

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Short Review (AKA TLDR)

After finishing ‘An Honest Lie’ by Tarryn Fisher, I was intrigued to find the audiobook of ‘The Wives’ available on Libby. Despite rating ‘An Honest Lie’ a 3/5 stars, I had heard that ‘The Wives’ was a far superior novel, and it proved to be a captivating read. The devilish and mind-bending plot hooked me from the beginning, with its fast-paced nature and constant surprises. While there were aspects that didn’t resonate with me, such as the challenge of connecting with the heroine and accepting the polygamous arrangement, the clever and unpredictable nature of the psychological thriller kept me engaged. The twisted and manipulative elements in the second half alternated between fascination and horror, leaving me unsure of what to believe. Overall, ‘The Wives’ was an engrossing audiobook that I couldn’t bring myself to pause, despite a few minor disappointments. I wholeheartedly recommend it to fans of psychological thrillers, as its dark and complex storyline evokes discomfort and offers a unique commentary on jealousy, polygamy, manipulation, and abuse.