My thanks to HQ for a digital edition via NetGalley of ‘The Wives’ by Tarryn Fisher in exchange for an honest review. It’s ebook and audiobook editions were released in December 2019 with the paperback available on 25 June 2020.

This is the kind of domestic noir/psychological thriller that is best read cold as it’s easy to be spoiled, so I won’t say much about its plot.

From publishers: “You’ve never met the other wives. None of you know each other, you see your husband only one day a week. Thursday. But you don’t care, you love him that much. Or at least that’s what you’ve told yourself…”

The novel’s narrator refers to her husband’s other two wives as Monday and Tuesday as those are the days that he spends with them each week. I wonder what he got up to on the other four days?

While this was a page-turner and a quick read almost from the start I found myself finding Thursday’s situation along with her responses and attitudes hard to accept.

Then, as is inevitable with psychological thrillers, there’s a twist. Here a major one occurred at the halfway point and after this, although I continued reading, I just felt that its new direction was insensitive, melodramatic, and made little sense. I found the ending abrupt and disappointing.

However, I am clearly in the minority here but it just didn’t work for me and I certainly didn’t find it in any way sexy.

Ok that was a crazy ride! I was honestly hooked straight away and I read this in just over 24 hours because I didn’t want to put it down.

I initially liked both Thursday and Seth and everytime I thought I knew what was happening and what was true, it flipped back and I was on the other ‘team’ all over again. It twisted so quickly as well which really picked up the pace and made me enjoy it so much more than I already was.

I absolutely loved the ending and how it was fitting to the character and not a happy or justice based ending - like when I put it down I was like ‘aaaaah yeah’ and not like what the hell thats it.

The only reason it’s not a full five stars for me is because it wasn’t fast paced ALL the way through and it was the introduction of the fast paced plot that really boosted this up for me.

I think I need more of Tarryn Fishers writing in my life!

I read this book as part of a blog tour.

I got a bit confused when the plot switches up towards the end but the main bulk of the plot focuses on Thursday and her investigations into the rest of husband's life.

She seems quite lost in her life, despite having a job and her family, she doesn't seem to have any friends.

The plot ratchets up as she goes in search of Hannah and starts questioning the arrangement she agreed to when she got married.

When the twist came I wasn't prepared for it and the ending definitely left me a little puzzled. What was true? What was really going on?

Thursday is married to Seth. But she shares him with two other women, known to her only as Monday and Tuesday. She spends her life waiting for him, and when she does, she makes sure she is the perfect wife, with a homecooked meal prepared, and her body always available to him when he wants it.

She finds herself wanting to know more about the other women in his life. She manages to find out their names and she makes contact with them. First Monday aka Hannah. When Thursday sees bruises on Hannah's arms, she starts to question who Seth really is. She finds out who Tuesday is and is confused when a search reveals that she is on a dating site.

When she confronts Seth, a struggle breaks out and she ends up unconscious, waking up in hospital, heavily medicated and confused. She's transferred to a psych ward, where she's told that she is delusional and that the story she is telling everyone about Seth is completely untrue. Convinced that he is only covering his tracks and that Hannah is in danger, she sets about exposing his lies when she is released.

But as the plot thickens, we, the reader start to doubt Thursday. Is she indeed suffering from a psychotic breakdown following a late miscarriage, or is Seth the ultimate manipulator?

A complex story, that I enjoyed to an extent, but in all honesty, the second half of the story became a little too far fetched for my liking. Still an enjoyable psychological thriller that will keep you guessing right to the end.

This was a good read although in places it seemed difficult to follow. I tried to imagine what life would be like being a member of a polygamous sect and this certainly opened my eyes. At no time did I calculate the ending and found it so almost unimaginable but satisfying.
The wives were all so well described and could be seen in my mind but the constant twists were perfect. The ending left lots of silly questions that I felt needed answering but it did not detract from the depth of the intrigue.
I would like to say so much but each time I fear that it would tell future readers too much and spoil things for them. Enough to say that it was a great read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. Isn't this just a marmite love-or-hate book! The Wives has an intriguingly fresh concept that asks you to make a few allowances for potentially unrealistic situations. I unfortunately ran out of allowances. The first half of the book sets up well despite my reservations about Thursday getting trapped in her situation in the first place: her relationship seems staged and while this gets addressed later on I just couldn't connect with that crucial aspect. I will say about halfway through, the plot completely subverts on its head. I'm a huge fan of a drastic and quickly executed twist and The Wives is definitely a book the reader goes into completely unaware of what genre or narrative it will then follow. However some aspects of this plot twist I didn't agree with for 1) morally problematic issues and 2) feeling it was the 'cheap' way out. The plot twist in question can easily explain away a lot of plotholes and inconsistencies so I felt a serious lack of closure upon finishing. The Wives reads to me as a quick and easy 'trash' beach read: fun if you don't take it too seriously and treat is as an 'in between' book of sorts! Just too many unsatisfactory pieces to make it a winner overall.

I really don’t know what to tell you about this book without giving away any of the plot. I think you should just read it!

It’s a gripping psychological thriller that keeps your interest picqued all the way through. I got so engrossed in it I couldn’t put it down. It’s full of plot twists and turns it’s a real literary rollercoaster!

One to read!

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ for the ARC

I loved this psychological thriller.it was based on a woman being one of many wives and not knowing anything about the other wives.

Slowly she starts to wonder and find out more information about them. As she does she finds out that she doesn't know anything about her husband Nd sets her mind to uncover everything there is to know.

It was a truly gripping read that I devoured over 2 sittings with an unpredictable ending that will leave the book in your mind long after you finish

The Wives by Tarryn Fisher is a marvellous contemporary psychological suspense that I read in just one sitting. It was rather a creepy read that totally consumed me.
There is the question of what is real and what is imagined? Who is telling the truth? And who is lying?
Tarryn Fisher has a very cleverly constructed and unique plotline. She manipulated my emotions as the action took over my life.
The tale is written in the first person strengthening the reader’s involvement. I read with baited breath and head spinning as I tried to distinguish the truth from the lies. I had to work out where I could put my trust.
The Wives had the upsetting subjects of miscarriage and mental illness. These were sensitively portrayed.
Tarry Fisher is a new author to me but I shall certainly be hunting out more by her. The Wives was a thrilling and sinister read.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Really wasn’t the book for me, very annoying characters that I found totally unbelievable tbh
The premise was interesting but only managed 30% apologies

Imagine being one of several wives. Would you be happy trying to be the best wife to your husband or want to find out about the others? Thursday always tries to be the perfect wife when she sees her husband – every Thursday by coincidence. The best meals, sex and company. However, when she accidentally finds out the name of one of the other lives, Thursday can’t help but do a bit of stalking.
I really enjoyed this book. The ending had me thinking and rethinking everything I had read so far. A very original story.

Absolutely loved this book. The first I’ve read by this author and now can’t wait to read more! Kept me guessing the entire way through

A little bit of a slow start to this one, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I don’t want to give away any of the story, all I can say is this is definitely worth your time. If you are a fan of psychological thrillers, this is for you. The story is all told from the perspective of the main female character. There is some swearing, but not overly so. It is well written and the story flows easily. I definitely recommend this book. Thank you #netgalley.

This was an all-consuming and enjoyable thriller from Tarryn Fisher. It was convincing, screwed with your theories and left you with a jaw drop. It was pretty difficult to put down and I love that kind of feeling in a thriller.

Told from the POV of Thursday, one of three wives. Thursday hooked you in to being on her side and wary of the moves of the mighty husband, Seth. Seth, the kind of man that could juggle three women and keep them all on a string, waiting for their turn and for him to deign his affection. There was only one problem with thinking this…Thursday was an unreliable narrator and I loved that!

I basically didn’t know my head from my tail, which was up and which was down or who to believe. I’m here for that. There was polygamy, grief, stalking, domestic abuse, mental health problems and manipulation all going on at once, but with three women that worked. My thoughts ricocheted from one wife to another, unsure of their characters, unsure of Seth.

The ending was something else and I can imagine people finding the exponential acceleration of crazy towards the end a little too much. For me, it was just right, at the end I did a little laugh, nod and inner ‘cleverly done’. I’m left feeling that this book was such a ride, a quick read due to the previously mentioned mind-consumption and just right to lose yourself in. I highly recommend for a great thriller with unusual themes.

Thank you HQ for the review copy.

What just happened?!?! This was a very easy read, with enough plot twists making you want to know what is coming next. But, the ending I wasn't expecting at all.
Thursday is in a polygamous relationship with Seth and two other wives, but the wives know nothing about each other. Thursday goes on a mission to find as much information about the other two wives.
This is all told from Thursday's point of view, I wish we could have some input from one of the other wives, maybe Hannah's.
Would definitely recommend and I'm on the search for other books by this author.
Thank you to Netgalley, Tarryn Fisher and HQ for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

I was totally hooked reading this book, couldnt put it down. Full of every emotion, love, good, bad, betrayal obsession.
Loved it

I loved this. I wasnt too sure how it was going to end up but the ending surprised me so much. I never seen that coming and I had to actually laugh at one point because it was way off what I thought. I was in to the book from the beginning and had it read within 2 days. The story flowed & the characters were easy to get to know and understand. Nice easy chapters. Thursday is married to a man who has 2 other wives but they dont know who each other is and they are only allowed one day a week with him. But Thursday wants to know more & things start to unravel. Thanks @netgalley

I enjoyed the book, but not sure that if I was in a polygamous relationship that I wouldn’t want to know all about the other people in that relationship. so didn’t really invest in the story as much as I could have.
I wasn’t really expecting the twist at the end, which makes you see the characters in a whole different light and redeemed the story for me.

The first part of this book had me intrigued; why would someone enter a polygamous relationship, particularly one where you don’t meet the other parties in this relationship. Why would you willingly share your partner with others? I wanted to learn more as Thursday told her story. But then as her story progresses, I found her less likeable, in fact there weren’t any characters that I liked. And as certain situations happened, it made me like the characters even less. The book turns quite dark as the story develops and Thursday investigates the other wives, and whilst I wanted to know how the story ended, I’m sure I liked the characters or how their story ended. I will say that I would never had guessed the big reveal!
⚠️ Reader caution ⚠️
Covers suicide including reference to an attempt, still birth and the aftermath. There are also lots of derogatory references by the characters to mental illness.

It was amazing from cover to end. It’s been a long time since I sat down and read a book cover to cover without stopping but once i started i couldn't stop. The Wives is told from the voice of Thursday, wife 2, Things aren’t always as they seem and that unfolds very quickly in this fast paced psychological thriller. I thought I had it all figured out and then it completely twisted.
The writing and page turners reminded me of Gone Girl / Girl on the Train. If you are a fan of thrillers, this is highly recommended.