I understand what this book is trying to convey and some of the phrasing was lovely but for me it fell flat. There was so much more depth that could have been added, such as the Zuzu's relationship with her son and more background on her relationship with Agnes. The characters were frustrating and annoyingly immature - you just wanted to say 'talk to each other!' It just didn't feel that believable. There wasn't a huge amount that happened either and what did happen wasn't explained for example, where did Agnes go that night at Heidi's? Was she with Heidi?
Then, suddenly without warning, I came to the acknowledgements page - a very dissatisfying ending.

There’s something about big life changes that makes you stop and take stock—of where you are, how you got there, and who’s standing beside you.

Susan ‘Zuzu’ Braeburn is on the cusp of forty. On the surface, she has everything she once dreamed of: a beautiful home, a child, and a successful partner. But something between her and Agnes has been off for a long time, and she can’t help but wonder—what if?

What if she had chosen to live with her father instead of her mother after their divorce? What if she had pursued art instead of law? And, most pressingly, what if she had followed her feelings for her best friend from university, Cash, rather than marrying Agnes?

When an unexpected loss brings Zuzu back to her hometown for a single wintry weekend, those questions become impossible to ignore. She is forced to confront the choices she has made and the uncomfortable truth that time is not infinite.

‘The Other Wife’ is a novel about choices and their consequences. Throughout, there are several ‘Sliding Doors’ moments—pivotal crossroads where Zuzu could have taken a different path. And yet, each time, she chooses to ‘get on the bus’ that leads her to Agnes. The novel’s denouement is particularly poignant; Zuzu mourns the versions of herself she never became, yet even that grief isn’t enough to spur her into action. Perhaps, deep down, she knows this is the life she was always meant to have. But knowing that doesn’t mean she finds it fulfilling.

Thomas-Kennedy’s narrative style is light and conversational, making this an easy and engaging read. The prose has a simple elegance to it, much like softly blended pastels—charming, effortless, never overwhelming. At just over 200 pages, it’s a refreshingly slim novel, and I admire the author’s restraint in an era of increasingly sprawling fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. This book just didn’t do it for me. The whole book was set on the premise that ZuZu is unhappy with her life, her and her wife Agnes are unhappy. The book is flashbacks to her past life- and I feel like even then she was unhappy.
There was no real joy in her like or this book.
It was an easy read and I finished it quickly. But there was no happiness in the book, even the ending I was like I’m sorry what’s just happened?

Jackie Taylor-Kennedy’s story is a well-written story that explores the themes of love, through the intertwined lives of two women who share a connection to the same man. With vivid prose, Taylor-Kennedy delves into complex themes of identity and trust, highlighting the lengths people go to for love. Although I typically enjoy fast-paced books, I found this one to be a solid read that captivated me in unexpected ways. What I appreciated most was the author’s ability to focus on human relationships and how these connections evolve and shape our lives.

The Other Wife by author Jackie Thomas-Kennedy was an interesting read, I admit I was not gripped straight away but once I got into it I found it a good novel.

We meet main character Susan who is nearing 40 and I think when you get to that age in life, you start to question choices and this is what happens to Susan. Did she choose the right life choices, married the right woman and the question of should she not be happy with a lovely marriage and family.

I found Susan very relatable as I can see why she is questioning such decisions and it makes for an interesting insight into why these decisions shape her life.

Thanks to the author, Netgalley and publisher for allowing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I get the idea what "The Other Wife" was trying to achieve - a portrait of personal crisis of Zuzu, whose life didn't turn out as she expected, exacerbated by grief and a hint of marital resentment. Narrative, written from the point of view of the protagonist, showcases not only the current events, but also snippets from Zuzu's past that include her college years and the moment of meeting her now-wife, Agnes.

The context of overall discontent provokes the protagonist to explore different "what ifs" and to ruminate what her life would be if she made different choices. As readers, we witness Zuzu at the point that something must change, but she's unsure what. It's quite a realistic portrayal, as we won't witness any major life-twists but rather small points of disillusion, as well as deciding on one small change that may bring hope.

A midlife crisis book, where Zuzu although she has everything she dreamed of she is left wondering if this is it. She is questioning her decisions in the past and its full of 'what iff's' Its not that I didn't warm to Zuzu, but boy did I find her frustrating and a little abrasive. I just wanted to shake her and ask her to communicate - with everyone around her; Folks are not mind readers honey. I felt like she was super lonely but that didn't really come up in the novel. Her son was hard for me to picture, there was hardly any interaction with him and I struggled to grasp his character. The writing was lovely and perfectly suited the reflective style of the book. I was all set to give this 4 stars but that ending..... I re read the last few pages 3 times and I am still none the wiser.

Zuzu and Agnes didn't seem like a good fit and the lack of background into how they got together and ended up with a child made it harder still to understand their relationship. The return of Cash to the dynamic led to some interesting revelations about the characters and their insecurities and lack of emotional focus.
For me the book was perhaps a little on the slow side, perhaps deliberately but I could have done with a bit more pace to the story.

A slow-burning, restrained novel that lingers on the edges of what is said and left unsaid, The Other Wife by Jackie Thomas-Kennedy operates in a space of withheld emotion and unresolved tension.

From the very start, there’s a pervasive sense that something is being deliberately left out—not just by the characters, but by the author herself. This opacity is intentional, a defining trait of both the narrative style and the people who inhabit it. And yet, while the book successfully sustains this atmosphere of quiet withholding, it falters when it comes to fully justifying its characters’ motivations.

The protagonist - Zuzu’s - choices feel more dictated by the novel’s structure than by emotional inevitability. She demands admiration and expects others to take the first step, yet remains both passive and simmeringly aggressive in return. It’s a self-protective stance, but one that becomes frustrating to witness rather than illuminating.

The pacing, too, feels uneven—measured but often stalling, as if the novel hesitates within its own sentences. There’s a deliberate slowness that occasionally deepens the mood, but just as often leaves the story feeling like it’s circling itself rather than progressing.

Ultimately, The Other Wife is a novel that thrives on ambiguity, but sometimes to its own detriment. It captures the psychology of self-protection and longing, but without fully convincing us of its characters’ choices. Thoughtful and atmospheric, but not entirely satisfying.

(ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)

A beautifully-written, well-observed and painfully relatable debut.

The absence of certain details about Zuzu and Agnes’ early relationship and why they got married and had a kid contributes to the overarching sense of “how did I end up here?”

If you enjoyed Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee, this is probably your jam. It’s character-driven but plot-light and our FMC is flawed and frustrating.

I wish the ending was a little more satisfying but I really enjoyed this and will be keeping an eye out for more from JTK!

I wasn’t sure about this story to begin with but persevered and began to enjoy the different characters. Zuzu is a mixed raced pretty girl who sets her sites upon Cash, a fellow law student. She befriends Agnes, also a fellow student and the two become close, so close in fact that they eventually marry. However, she is still in close contact with Chad altho he is now married to Molly! Relationships all becomes a little tangled and I was hoping it would eventually all end happily ever after! However, my initial reluctance to persevere came back to haunt me - without any warning the words ‘achnowledgements’ appeared and I was none the wiser for my efforts! Very disappointing!

A beautifully written story. I enjoyed how raw and flawed the characters were - I could feel the frustration that Zuzu and Agnes had for each other. The flashback chapters were a great way to understand the dynamics between the relationships and friendships between the characters. A reflective, character-driven read about second chances; overall a lovely book!

Thank you NetGalley for the early copy!

Zuzu is having a mid-life crisis. Her wife, Agnes, lives her busy lawyer life and Zuzu is pretty much left out, looking after all the domestic chores and their son, Gideon. I would have liked to have known who the birth mother was. Cash is Zuzu's long term friend, the one that got away. She still has feelings for him, and talks to him more than she talks to Agnes. They eventually have an affair. The ending is ambiguous. I found the style of writing hard to get into at first, especially as it is full of American references and phrases which I did not understand.

I enjoyed the writing from Jackie, it was very easy to read and to understand her character's motivations. Susan is very well written in the way she is very flawed, she's someone who feels underappreciated by her wife and misses the feeling of being desired and wanted. Initially I felt like I wasn't going to like Susan because I dislike cheating but as the story progressed, I felt like Susan could be with someone who appreciated her contributions more. I felt like Susan and her wife Agnes were incompatible by being very opposite in what they want and do in their marriage. I found the ending unsatisfactory and anti climax. I think maybe because I was hoping for her to have an epiphany or maybe realise she and Agnes need to either work on their marriage and communication. Or perhaps they just break up and be their own person. I think the ending is still sufficient because at the end of the day, I think Susan truly does love Agnes and she wants to make it work for Agnes and their son Gideon and I think she decided I want this, it's not perfect but I still want it. I think because of that, the ending is a realistic end for the book.

I don't think I would read this again but I really did enjoy reading about someone I could relate to in terms of unrequited love.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for granting me the opportunity to have an ARC and share my honest opinion.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Other Wife as I tend to gravitate toward character-driven narratives rather than plot-driven ones. This novel beautifully captures the difficult and often uncomfortable realities of marriage, love, relationships, and intimacy, all while offering a deep and poignant exploration of self-reflection and regret.

At the heart of the story is Zuzu, a woman nearing 40 who, on the surface, appears to have it all: a stable career, a partner, and a child. Yet, beneath this façade, she is emotionally adrift, struggling with a profound sense of dissatisfaction. Jackie Thomas-Kennedy uses Zuzu’s voice to pull readers into her world, drawing us closer with each passing chapter. The first-person narration is an effective choice that makes Zuzu feel like a confidante—someone we can empathize with and, at times, even want to comfort. Her internal turmoil is palpable, as she navigates a complex and, at times, fraught relationship with her wife, Agnes, and grapples with personal and familial expectations.

Thomas-Kennedy's writing is stunning, marked by its vivid imagery and delicate attention to sensory details. The author often weaves food into the narrative, using it as a motif to delve deeper into Zuzu's past, and it enhances the emotional resonance of her journey. The writing is captivating, keeping the reader engaged, and the short, sharply focused chapters make the pacing quick and compelling.

The novel delves into some deeply relevant themes—love, identity, race, and regret—though, at times, it seems to shy away from fully exploring these ideas in greater depth. The relationship dynamics, especially the one between Zuzu and Agnes, are beautifully complicated, revealing cracks in their communication and the way they have drifted apart over the years. Zuzu’s frustration is mirrored in her lack of agency, a trait that frustrates some readers but is undeniably true to life. Her inability to make decisions or express herself fully creates a tension that drives the narrative forward, even if it doesn’t lead to dramatic resolutions or breakthroughs. This, however, may leave some readers feeling unsatisfied, as the novel doesn’t offer the resolution or catharsis one might expect from a more plot-driven story.

What The Other Wife does offer is a nuanced portrayal of a character in the throes of personal crisis, trying to make sense of a life that hasn’t turned out the way she imagined. Her relationship with her family, particularly with her parents, is fragile and often strained, providing an additional layer of complexity to the narrative. The themes of desire and identity are carefully examined, with Zuzu’s introspective journey offering valuable insight into how our past choices shape our present and future.

While some may find the slow pace and lack of a traditional plot arc to be a drawback, those who appreciate quiet, introspective character studies will find much to admire in this novel. Zuzu is a fascinating, if frustrating, character—her emotional complexity is what makes her so real, even if it also makes her hard to fully connect with at times.

In sum, The Other Wife is a deeply reflective and thoughtfully written novel. It’s a story about the intersections of love, regret, and self-discovery, one that lingers long after the final page is turned. Fans of character-driven fiction and those who enjoy contemplative, slow-burn stories will find this book to be a rewarding experience.

Jackie Taylor-Kennedy’s The Other Wife is a well-written story of love, betrayal and resilience. The story centres around two women who have a shared connection to one man. With vivid prose, Taylor-Kennedy delves into themes of identity, trust and the lengths we go to for love.

The author doesn’t shy away from showing human relationships' raw, messy realities. The alternating perspectives and flashbacks to the past allow readers to empathise with both women, despite their conflicting roles.

While the pace slows in the middle a bit, the tension and twists quickly draw you back in.

The Other Wife is compelling for anyone who loves stories about strong, flawed women navigating love and life.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

The other woman

This book is essentially about how Zuzu is unhappy with her relationship with her wife of 10 years, along with her career and other relationships. Agnes is married to her job, and Zuzu picks up all the life admin, combined with Zuzu and Agnes having little to any meaningful or positive communication with each other, leading to relationship challenges. Her family dynamics are also complicated and fragile, with most conversations involving being passive aggressive. It’s easy to see why Zuzu is so unhappy with her life, yet I felt a lot of it was on her in the way she communicates.

Honestly I really wanted to enjoy this book but it just felt lacklustre to me overall .There didn’t seem to be any injection of energy into the storyline other than someone that is unhappy and unable to make decisions or communicate positivity, which in the end made me a bit frustrated with the character.

“You are the most passive person I’ve met in my life”

Don’t get me wrong, the writing style is very easy to read but I just felt like something was missing. I really don’t like writing negative reviews, but I have to honest with my experience. Regardless I am grateful to @netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to review this ARC copy. And please don’t let this review put you off, everyone enjoys books differently, for me this one just didn’t land.

An all-too-relatable story of getting to the middle of life and questioning where you are, who you're with, and what you're doing. Looking back at the choices and the people in your life, and wondering if you made the right choices; what things could or would have been if things had turned out differently.

3.5 stars

At almost 40, Zuzu seems to have it all - a career, a wife, a child - but she can’t shake the feeling that her life isn’t what it should be. When an unexpected loss brings her back to her hometown, Zuzu is forced to confront her regrets and the choices that have shaped her life.

This is definitely a book for fans of character-driven stories. The writing is vivid, and Jackie Thomas-Kennedy does a fantastic job making Zuzu’s frustration and inner turmoil feel real. That said, Zuzu herself was a frustrating character at times, which I think was intentional but still made it hard for me to fully connect with her.

While I appreciated the exploration of race, class, love, and regret, the slow pace and lack of a strong plot left me feeling a bit uninvested. Not much happens in terms of action-it’s more of a quiet, introspective journey-which won’t be for everyone. The ending, while thought-provoking, didn’t feel as resolved or rewarding as I’d hoped.

Overall, The Other Wife is beautifully written and will appeal to readers who enjoy introspection and character studies. If you’re looking for a plot-driven story, this might not be the right fit. Thank you to Penguin/Viking and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thanks netgalley for this book. I thought it was beautifully written and I really felt the frustration of the characters. There is some amazing language “you could love your son to the point of worship and you could still find yourself gasping for air among the dirty plates”. The what ifs, the dissatisfaction. It was all frustrating and real.
My biggest complaint was the unclear ending!