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My Husband's Wife
When young lawyer Lily marries Ed, she’s determined to make a fresh start and leave the secrets of the past behind. But then she takes on her first murder case and meets Joe, a convicted murderer to whom Lily is strangely drawn—and for whom she will soon be willing to risk almost anything.
But Lily is not the only one with secrets. Her next-door neighbor Carla may be only nine, but she has already learned that secrets are powerful things. That they can get her whatever she wants.
When Lily finds Carla on her doorstep twelve years later, a chain of events is set in motion that can end only one way.
But Lily is not the only one with secrets. Her next-door neighbor Carla may be only nine, but she has already learned that secrets are powerful things. That they can get her whatever she wants.
When Lily finds Carla on her doorstep twelve years later, a chain of events is set in motion that can end only one way.
373 pages, Hardcover
First published May 26, 2016
About the author
Jane Corry
14 books1,577 followersJane Corry is a Sunday Times and Washington Post best-seller. After working as a journalist for many years, she took a job as a writer in residence of a high-security male prison out of financial necessity. But she became hooked.
Novels include MY HUSBAND'S WIFE, BLOOD SISTERS, THE DEAD EX, I MADE A MISTAKE, I LOOKED AWAY, THE LIES WE TELL, WE ALL HAVE OUR SECRETS,COMING TO FIND YOU and I DIED ON A TUESDAY. Her next novel come out in June 2025. Title to be announced soon!
She is published by Penguin in the UK and Doubleday in Canada and the US.
You can find Jane on Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok, Threads and Facebook . Also on www.janecorryauthor.com
Novels include MY HUSBAND'S WIFE, BLOOD SISTERS, THE DEAD EX, I MADE A MISTAKE, I LOOKED AWAY, THE LIES WE TELL, WE ALL HAVE OUR SECRETS,COMING TO FIND YOU and I DIED ON A TUESDAY. Her next novel come out in June 2025. Title to be announced soon!
She is published by Penguin in the UK and Doubleday in Canada and the US.
You can find Jane on Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok, Threads and Facebook . Also on www.janecorryauthor.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,115 reviews
August 9, 2016
My bum hurts from sitting on the fence. I’ve been here a while. On one hand, this book was enticing and the plot was very well thought out. The characters went on long personal journeys and that made me feel satisfied. However, there was always something off. I can’t tell whether it was the writing style, which for me wasn’t something to write home about, or whether it was that none of the characters were relatable or likeable.
The book is cut into two halves, beginning in the year two thousand with Lily as a newly qualified solicitor, fresh from her honeymoon with her new husband Ed. Her first case is to defend a convicted murder Joe Thomas, who was accused of killing his girlfriend. There is a strange attraction between Lily and Joe, and since her new marriage isn’t turning out exactly as she had hoped, she finds it difficult to walk the professional line.
The story is also told in the point of view of Carla, a young girl living in the same apartment building as Lily and Ed. She has an attractive Italian mother who is seeing a married man named Larry. As their lives become more involved, nothing is quite as it seems.
The next half of the book is fast forwarded to fifteen years later. Lily is now a successful partner at a law firm, she and Ed have managed to make it work and now have a son together. Carla returned to the UK after going home with her Mamma to Italy and has returned into Lily and Ed’s lives un-expectantly. Her motives are mainly money, as Ed gained quite a lot from a painting he had drawn of her as a young child which was successful.
There is a lot of edginess to the novel, and it was an interesting read. As I said before, though, I found myself struggling to find anything about the characters I liked. Carla was a narcissistic egotistical Italian girl who used her looks to get what she wanted from life. Lily, while being a nice(ish) person, did things in her life I struggled to sympathise with.
To me, the title and cover didn’t really live up to my expectations.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Penguin Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The book is cut into two halves, beginning in the year two thousand with Lily as a newly qualified solicitor, fresh from her honeymoon with her new husband Ed. Her first case is to defend a convicted murder Joe Thomas, who was accused of killing his girlfriend. There is a strange attraction between Lily and Joe, and since her new marriage isn’t turning out exactly as she had hoped, she finds it difficult to walk the professional line.
The story is also told in the point of view of Carla, a young girl living in the same apartment building as Lily and Ed. She has an attractive Italian mother who is seeing a married man named Larry. As their lives become more involved, nothing is quite as it seems.
The next half of the book is fast forwarded to fifteen years later. Lily is now a successful partner at a law firm, she and Ed have managed to make it work and now have a son together. Carla returned to the UK after going home with her Mamma to Italy and has returned into Lily and Ed’s lives un-expectantly. Her motives are mainly money, as Ed gained quite a lot from a painting he had drawn of her as a young child which was successful.
There is a lot of edginess to the novel, and it was an interesting read. As I said before, though, I found myself struggling to find anything about the characters I liked. Carla was a narcissistic egotistical Italian girl who used her looks to get what she wanted from life. Lily, while being a nice(ish) person, did things in her life I struggled to sympathise with.
To me, the title and cover didn’t really live up to my expectations.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Penguin Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 19, 2017
It could have been much shorter book and think it would have been better for it.
Shelved as 'dnf'
June 3, 2017I cannot deal with the writing. This a debut, and it shows.
April 13, 2016
This is a superb dark psychological thriller, how could it not be with the title it has! The story is populated with flawed characters and is told from the POV of Lily and Carla. Lily and Ed get married, she is starting as a criminal lawyer and he is an artist. Carla is a manipulative child, who along with her mother, is befriended by Lily. Ed comes to find success through his picture of Carla, 'The Italian Girl'. Lily has a client, Joe, who is convicted of murdering his girlfriend, a scenario which lets just say gets complicated. Moving on in time, Lily is a successful partner in the law firm, still married to Ed and with an autistic son. Carla returns, and Ed wants to paint her again.
In a story crammed full of twists, Jane Corry has focused on the human aspects. The characters are complex, it can be difficult to establish the motivations for some of their actions, but this is often how real people can be like. You are drawn into the relationships and want to know more. An assured debut from the author. Many thanks to Penguin for an ARC via netgalley.
In a story crammed full of twists, Jane Corry has focused on the human aspects. The characters are complex, it can be difficult to establish the motivations for some of their actions, but this is often how real people can be like. You are drawn into the relationships and want to know more. An assured debut from the author. Many thanks to Penguin for an ARC via netgalley.
September 20, 2016
I thought this was really awful.
The book is called "My Husband's Wife". What the plot is, I'm not really sure. The part where the story might actually come into play is page 460, but then it's over very fast. Before that the book covers around 13 years, very much in the vein of "this happened, then this happened, then this happened" with absolutely no emotional involvement for the reader. I stuck to it because I was waiting and waiting for something to happen that would make this void book make sense.
The dialogue read like it was written by a child - straight to the point with no subtext... people simply do not speak to each other the way they do in this book. 'Dramatic' scenes played out so fast that they were over in a paragraph, the characters were all over the place as though the writer didn't know them at all and couldn't make up her mind about their personalities/aims. I have never hated a writing style more!!
I just can't make sense of the good reviews. When a character was sad, they sobbed. One character was literally 'sobbing' in every scene she was in, as if the writer didn't know any other way to express that this character was in a tough spot in life other than to have her wail... constantly. The whole thing was infuriating, and then there is zero pay off at the end for all of your hard work reading it.
Avoid!!
The book is called "My Husband's Wife". What the plot is, I'm not really sure. The part where the story might actually come into play is page 460, but then it's over very fast. Before that the book covers around 13 years, very much in the vein of "this happened, then this happened, then this happened" with absolutely no emotional involvement for the reader. I stuck to it because I was waiting and waiting for something to happen that would make this void book make sense.
The dialogue read like it was written by a child - straight to the point with no subtext... people simply do not speak to each other the way they do in this book. 'Dramatic' scenes played out so fast that they were over in a paragraph, the characters were all over the place as though the writer didn't know them at all and couldn't make up her mind about their personalities/aims. I have never hated a writing style more!!
I just can't make sense of the good reviews. When a character was sad, they sobbed. One character was literally 'sobbing' in every scene she was in, as if the writer didn't know any other way to express that this character was in a tough spot in life other than to have her wail... constantly. The whole thing was infuriating, and then there is zero pay off at the end for all of your hard work reading it.
Avoid!!
December 30, 2016
3.5 stars
A new marriage shouldn’t be fueled by secrets and lies, but alas secrets and lies are the foundation for the marriage of Ed and Lily.
Lily and Ed get married after a whirlwind romance. On their honeymoon, something happens that creates cracks in their new union. Lily pushes her qualms aside and focuses on her new job as a solicitor for which she has taken on the case of a convicted murderer whom she happens to form an attraction. Ed and Lily’s marriage continues to quickly diminish.
Meanwhile, 7-year-old Carla and her mother Francesca live down the hall from Lily and Ed. Carla and her mother lives become entangled with Lily and Ed’s. Fast-forward 15 years, and Carla has come to enact revenge on Ed and Lily for ruining her mother’s life.
The plot is multifaceted, the characters are unlikable, but have interesting voices that kept me intrigued. I was especially drawn to young Carla’s narrative, but a little let down when it came to older Carla’s story. I enjoyed the first part of the book more than the second, and felt the ending was crammed together.
I received a copy of this book from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
A new marriage shouldn’t be fueled by secrets and lies, but alas secrets and lies are the foundation for the marriage of Ed and Lily.
Lily and Ed get married after a whirlwind romance. On their honeymoon, something happens that creates cracks in their new union. Lily pushes her qualms aside and focuses on her new job as a solicitor for which she has taken on the case of a convicted murderer whom she happens to form an attraction. Ed and Lily’s marriage continues to quickly diminish.
Meanwhile, 7-year-old Carla and her mother Francesca live down the hall from Lily and Ed. Carla and her mother lives become entangled with Lily and Ed’s. Fast-forward 15 years, and Carla has come to enact revenge on Ed and Lily for ruining her mother’s life.
The plot is multifaceted, the characters are unlikable, but have interesting voices that kept me intrigued. I was especially drawn to young Carla’s narrative, but a little let down when it came to older Carla’s story. I enjoyed the first part of the book more than the second, and felt the ending was crammed together.
I received a copy of this book from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
May 7, 2018
“Believe it or not, some criminals will get away with it. Some will go to prison for crimes they didn’t commit. And a certain percentage of those ‘innocents’ will have got away with other offences before. So you could say it balances out in the end.”
This was great! It being on the longer side, I wasn’t sure if this novel would keep my attention - but I was hooked from start to finish!
There are two POVs. That of Lily, an insecure 20 something married to a man who proposed on the second date. She is a newly qualified lawyer taking on an appeal case for a man currently imprisoned for killing his girlfriend. But did he actually do it?
“Who knows where blame really lies? It’s never as simple as it seems.”
The second POV is Carla, the 9 year old next door neighbour of Lily and her artist husband Ed. Carla lives with her Italian mother, who has regular visits from a man named Larry.
“Yet maybe we all have layers of good and bad inside us. Of truth and deceit.”
The book then jumps to 12 years later. Where Lily and Ed’s lives have completely changed, and are thrown into even more turmoil by the return of the now adult Carla. From here the plot spirals with murder, conspiracies, lies and deceit. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. So many twists and turns I didn’t know who to believe! Jane Corry is now one of my must read authors!
“So it’s true what they say about dying. The past comes back to go with you.”
This was great! It being on the longer side, I wasn’t sure if this novel would keep my attention - but I was hooked from start to finish!
There are two POVs. That of Lily, an insecure 20 something married to a man who proposed on the second date. She is a newly qualified lawyer taking on an appeal case for a man currently imprisoned for killing his girlfriend. But did he actually do it?
“Who knows where blame really lies? It’s never as simple as it seems.”
The second POV is Carla, the 9 year old next door neighbour of Lily and her artist husband Ed. Carla lives with her Italian mother, who has regular visits from a man named Larry.
“Yet maybe we all have layers of good and bad inside us. Of truth and deceit.”
The book then jumps to 12 years later. Where Lily and Ed’s lives have completely changed, and are thrown into even more turmoil by the return of the now adult Carla. From here the plot spirals with murder, conspiracies, lies and deceit. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. So many twists and turns I didn’t know who to believe! Jane Corry is now one of my must read authors!
“So it’s true what they say about dying. The past comes back to go with you.”
March 2, 2017
My Husband’s Wife by Jane Corry is a 2017 Pamela Dorman Books publication.
The title of this book is certainly intriguing and led me to believe this novel would most likely be the kind twisty domestic thriller I can’t seem to get enough of.
However, for me, at least, this book seems like it is one part family drama and one part domestic thriller.
The story is centered around Lily and Ed, who marry after a brief courtship. When the honeymoon is over, Lily, who is a solicitor, gets a nice promotion up to criminal defense, while Ed, who is an artist, settles for a job in advertising, although that is not what brings him satisfaction as an artist.
The marriage topples almost immediately, but an unexpected bright spot appears in their lives when a neighbor’s child, named Carla, worms her way into their home, giving the couple a much -needed distraction from their problems.
Yet, as the years pass, Ed and Lily both make moral compromises, personally and professionally, and their relationship with Carla gets caught in the crossfire.
Never in a million years would I have guess how many curves and detours this story would take. This is very much a character driven story, that zeroes in on the perplexities of human beings and the force behind what make them tick as individuals. Lies, scheming, obsessions, and compromised convictions all come into play here and there are dire consequences.
The author wisely gives the reader a glimpse into the future as the book begins, so that we know something sinister is going to happen before our trip back in time to see what lead up to this catastrophic event. Without that knowledge, the pacing during the first half of the book, could have been a deal breaker. There were some huge reveals here and there and while the character’s moral bankruptcies and ambiguties, makes for an interesting character study, it felt more like a soap opera or family drama than a novel of suspense.
However, I urge you to stick it out, because as you approach the second half of the book, things really become quite interesting. I was mesmerized by the incredible turn of events and simply could not put the book down!
It should be noted that this is a dark psychological drama in which most of the characters are intensely flawed and do some pretty rotten things, so you will find yourself hard pressed to find redeemable qualities in them. However, in the end, I think that is what makes these types of books so compelling and thought provoking and frankly, much more realistic. After giving myself time to digest everything, I have to say that despite the slow pacing and the occasionally overdone dramatics, this is a clever thriller and fans of this genre will definitely want to check it out.
4 stars
The title of this book is certainly intriguing and led me to believe this novel would most likely be the kind twisty domestic thriller I can’t seem to get enough of.
However, for me, at least, this book seems like it is one part family drama and one part domestic thriller.
The story is centered around Lily and Ed, who marry after a brief courtship. When the honeymoon is over, Lily, who is a solicitor, gets a nice promotion up to criminal defense, while Ed, who is an artist, settles for a job in advertising, although that is not what brings him satisfaction as an artist.
The marriage topples almost immediately, but an unexpected bright spot appears in their lives when a neighbor’s child, named Carla, worms her way into their home, giving the couple a much -needed distraction from their problems.
Yet, as the years pass, Ed and Lily both make moral compromises, personally and professionally, and their relationship with Carla gets caught in the crossfire.
Never in a million years would I have guess how many curves and detours this story would take. This is very much a character driven story, that zeroes in on the perplexities of human beings and the force behind what make them tick as individuals. Lies, scheming, obsessions, and compromised convictions all come into play here and there are dire consequences.
The author wisely gives the reader a glimpse into the future as the book begins, so that we know something sinister is going to happen before our trip back in time to see what lead up to this catastrophic event. Without that knowledge, the pacing during the first half of the book, could have been a deal breaker. There were some huge reveals here and there and while the character’s moral bankruptcies and ambiguties, makes for an interesting character study, it felt more like a soap opera or family drama than a novel of suspense.
However, I urge you to stick it out, because as you approach the second half of the book, things really become quite interesting. I was mesmerized by the incredible turn of events and simply could not put the book down!
It should be noted that this is a dark psychological drama in which most of the characters are intensely flawed and do some pretty rotten things, so you will find yourself hard pressed to find redeemable qualities in them. However, in the end, I think that is what makes these types of books so compelling and thought provoking and frankly, much more realistic. After giving myself time to digest everything, I have to say that despite the slow pacing and the occasionally overdone dramatics, this is a clever thriller and fans of this genre will definitely want to check it out.
4 stars
January 2, 2019
FOUR STARS
Okay, Jane Corry, this is the first book I've read of yours, and I really liked it! MY HUSBAND'S WIFE has been on my TBR for awhile now and I'm not ashamed to admit it was mainly due to that clever, provocative title.
Newlyweds Ed and Lily Macdonald quickly discover that marriage isn't as blissful as they thought it would be. Especially when you really can't trust your partner. When they meet their neighbors in the apartment building, Ed begins indulging in a strange fascination with an Italian immigrant's young daughter, Carla. This lifelong fixation on the beautiful Carla proves to be Ed and Lily's downfall.
This is a long (14 hour audio-yikes!) twisted story of family secrets, lies and of course, MURDER. I love to read about these sordid characters when written from a stiff upper British lip style. There is an unrepentant tone, a must-carry-on-kind-of-attitude that is sort of refreshing. And frankly missing in many American family drama novels. Haaa!
I found the book to be 100% entertaining and was thoroughly immersed in the story. I do wish it had been shorter, thus my 4 star rating. I highly recommend the audio--it was superb!
Okay, Jane Corry, this is the first book I've read of yours, and I really liked it! MY HUSBAND'S WIFE has been on my TBR for awhile now and I'm not ashamed to admit it was mainly due to that clever, provocative title.
Newlyweds Ed and Lily Macdonald quickly discover that marriage isn't as blissful as they thought it would be. Especially when you really can't trust your partner. When they meet their neighbors in the apartment building, Ed begins indulging in a strange fascination with an Italian immigrant's young daughter, Carla. This lifelong fixation on the beautiful Carla proves to be Ed and Lily's downfall.
This is a long (14 hour audio-yikes!) twisted story of family secrets, lies and of course, MURDER. I love to read about these sordid characters when written from a stiff upper British lip style. There is an unrepentant tone, a must-carry-on-kind-of-attitude that is sort of refreshing. And frankly missing in many American family drama novels. Haaa!
I found the book to be 100% entertaining and was thoroughly immersed in the story. I do wish it had been shorter, thus my 4 star rating. I highly recommend the audio--it was superb!
November 3, 2019
While this seemed like an interesting plot it seemed to drag forever. Almost too many twists to the point that I wanted to pull my hair if one more came along. Every single character was completely damaged but not to the point that it made them disturbingly endearing, just quite irritating.
I did like the insertion of a bit of a look into raising a child with Aspergers. Tho linked to the immediate story it still felt as if it was thrown in there half assed.
I did like the insertion of a bit of a look into raising a child with Aspergers. Tho linked to the immediate story it still felt as if it was thrown in there half assed.
April 20, 2017
I have never read so much drivel in my life. I only persevered with this book as it was recommended to me by a friend ..... I will choose my friends a bit more wisely in future.
Psychological thriller? It was neither psychological or thrilling. This novel is merely an undramatic unfolding of events surrounding two main characters - Lily and Carla - and their relationships with others. Characters I neither cared about or related to at all. The "twisty" plot is based on the good old, and overused, foundation of secrets and lies. And fails miserably.
What shocks me more about this novel is that the author is supposedly a creative writing teacher .... Really?? I thought creative writing was all about the showing rather than the telling. There is absolutely no showing in this novel at all. It's all 'this happened, then that happened, oh and wait, years ago something happened but I'm not going to tell you, you'll just have to wait ...". And seriously, what creative writing expert, or editor for that matter, would allow sweeping cliches as "went from strength to strength"??!!
So this definitely gets the big thumbs down from me. It's two days of my life I will never get back. However, thankfully, it's two days of my life I was doing nothing interesting anyway as I'm laid up with a chest infection ;-)
Psychological thriller? It was neither psychological or thrilling. This novel is merely an undramatic unfolding of events surrounding two main characters - Lily and Carla - and their relationships with others. Characters I neither cared about or related to at all. The "twisty" plot is based on the good old, and overused, foundation of secrets and lies. And fails miserably.
What shocks me more about this novel is that the author is supposedly a creative writing teacher .... Really?? I thought creative writing was all about the showing rather than the telling. There is absolutely no showing in this novel at all. It's all 'this happened, then that happened, oh and wait, years ago something happened but I'm not going to tell you, you'll just have to wait ...". And seriously, what creative writing expert, or editor for that matter, would allow sweeping cliches as "went from strength to strength"??!!
So this definitely gets the big thumbs down from me. It's two days of my life I will never get back. However, thankfully, it's two days of my life I was doing nothing interesting anyway as I'm laid up with a chest infection ;-)
June 5, 2016
Tried too hard to be clever and ended up an implausible mess.
April 3, 2016
This thriller begins with the news of a crime in the present day and then backtracks to fifteen years earlier, to unravel the events which led to murder…
This is very much a book of two halves, beginning in London with Lily as a newly qualified solicitor. She is just back from her honeymoon, after a whirlwind romance, and sudden proposal, from artist Ed. Both are just starting out in their careers; with Ed working in advertising while he aims for success and Lily moving into criminal law.
Lily’s first case is to defend Joe Thomas, who was convicted of murdering his girlfriend. Joe’s odd, controlling behaviour, reminds Lily of her adopted brother, Daniel, whose death she blames herself for. With doubts over her marriage and a feeling of jealousy towards Ed’s ex girlfriend, she feels herself losing her ability to remain uninvolved and professional.
Meanwhile, Lily and Ed become involved with their neighbours; an attractive Italian mother and her young daughter, Carla. Although the beginning of this novel is quite slow, I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and what motivated them. None of them are particularly sympathetic , but this part of the book and the interplay between the characters is important to understand what happens later.
Skipping forward some years, we find Lily as a successful, attractive partner in the law firm. Still married to Ed and with a son. When Carla, now an adult, re-enters the lives of Ed and Lily, we wonder what her motives are. Meanwhile Ed, whose success began with a portrait of Carla as a child, is keen to paint Carla as a beautiful young woman and, hopefully, kick start his failing career.
With lots of twists and turns, this is an interesting novel – part thriller and part literary fiction. I particularly liked the central character of Lily, but felt all the female characters had more depth than the men in this novel. As assured debut and an author to watch. Lastly, I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review.
This is very much a book of two halves, beginning in London with Lily as a newly qualified solicitor. She is just back from her honeymoon, after a whirlwind romance, and sudden proposal, from artist Ed. Both are just starting out in their careers; with Ed working in advertising while he aims for success and Lily moving into criminal law.
Lily’s first case is to defend Joe Thomas, who was convicted of murdering his girlfriend. Joe’s odd, controlling behaviour, reminds Lily of her adopted brother, Daniel, whose death she blames herself for. With doubts over her marriage and a feeling of jealousy towards Ed’s ex girlfriend, she feels herself losing her ability to remain uninvolved and professional.
Meanwhile, Lily and Ed become involved with their neighbours; an attractive Italian mother and her young daughter, Carla. Although the beginning of this novel is quite slow, I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and what motivated them. None of them are particularly sympathetic , but this part of the book and the interplay between the characters is important to understand what happens later.
Skipping forward some years, we find Lily as a successful, attractive partner in the law firm. Still married to Ed and with a son. When Carla, now an adult, re-enters the lives of Ed and Lily, we wonder what her motives are. Meanwhile Ed, whose success began with a portrait of Carla as a child, is keen to paint Carla as a beautiful young woman and, hopefully, kick start his failing career.
With lots of twists and turns, this is an interesting novel – part thriller and part literary fiction. I particularly liked the central character of Lily, but felt all the female characters had more depth than the men in this novel. As assured debut and an author to watch. Lastly, I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review.
November 4, 2017
About: My Husband’s Wife is a thriller written by Jane Corry. It was recently published on 10/31/17 by Penguin Books, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, 400 pages. The genres are mystery, thriller, suspense, and fiction. This book is the author’s debut thriller.
My Experience: I started reading My Husband’s Wife on 10/25/17 and finished it on 11/04/17. This book is an exciting and addicting read because it’s full of secrets, lies, and deceptions. If time was on my side, I would have plowed through this book in one day! I love following Carla’s point of view. She pays attention to every little details and uses it to her advantage while appearing innocent. She might truly being innocent because she’s a child and that makes her seems very clever. I also like her views as an adult. I like learning the difference between solicitor and barrister from this book. I like learning of Asperger syndrome. The lies were so cleverly weaved for the crimes committed. Excellent twists to that last crime! I like the reminder about how we don’t really know people.
In this book, readers will follow Lily Macdonald, a twenty five year old newlywed to Ed Macdonald. Lily is a solicitor defense lawyer and Ed is an artist on a rocky career path. Readers will also follow Carla, a 9 year old girl and neighbor to Lily & Ed Macdonald. Carla lives with her mom. Carla learns early on how to manipulate to get what she wants. This book starts out with a death 15 years later without further information. The author then takes readers back to 15 years before when Lily & Ed are starting out as a newlywed. Their marriage is bumpy due to many reasons. As a lawyer, Lily is to represent a convicted murderer Joe Thomas to appeal his case. Joe reminds her of her dead brother Daniel so she goes above and beyond to get him acquitted. Carla, on the other hand, is having a hard time fitting in. She has moved into another school because the kids from the previous school were mean to her. In this new school, life still doesn’t go according to her plans. Life at home isn’t so great either because her mom loves a man who already have a family of his own. Some lies are caught and the past sticks around to haunt the present and the future. Fast forward to 12 years later and readers will follow Carla in her early twenties and Lily in her early forties. There is also a mystery italicize narrative throughout the story that is confusing and even in the end I don’t know if it belongs to someone.
This book is very well written. Each page, the story becomes intriguing. I couldn’t wait to learn the secrets of all of the characters. Carla seems to notice everything, from her mom’s practiced smiles/cries in front of the mirror to her lies. I’m anticipating each page as to how the story will unfolds when the dual point of views are of an adult and a child. I haven’t read a book with this different perspectives and ended up flipping page after page. One thing that is a dead giveaway is the trouble marriage which readers are well aware of right away. If there is trouble in the marriage, anything happen afterwards is bound to happen. Also, welcoming a single woman into a home is a welcome trouble to come. Even so, I still enjoy the read greatly and I highly recommend everyone to read this book!
Pro: mystery, cover, suspense, secrets, lies, deceptions, page turner, fast paced,
Con: none
I rate it 5 stars!
***Disclaimer: Many thanks to the author Jane Corry, publisher Penguin Books, and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more reviews
My Experience: I started reading My Husband’s Wife on 10/25/17 and finished it on 11/04/17. This book is an exciting and addicting read because it’s full of secrets, lies, and deceptions. If time was on my side, I would have plowed through this book in one day! I love following Carla’s point of view. She pays attention to every little details and uses it to her advantage while appearing innocent. She might truly being innocent because she’s a child and that makes her seems very clever. I also like her views as an adult. I like learning the difference between solicitor and barrister from this book. I like learning of Asperger syndrome. The lies were so cleverly weaved for the crimes committed. Excellent twists to that last crime! I like the reminder about how we don’t really know people.
In this book, readers will follow Lily Macdonald, a twenty five year old newlywed to Ed Macdonald. Lily is a solicitor defense lawyer and Ed is an artist on a rocky career path. Readers will also follow Carla, a 9 year old girl and neighbor to Lily & Ed Macdonald. Carla lives with her mom. Carla learns early on how to manipulate to get what she wants. This book starts out with a death 15 years later without further information. The author then takes readers back to 15 years before when Lily & Ed are starting out as a newlywed. Their marriage is bumpy due to many reasons. As a lawyer, Lily is to represent a convicted murderer Joe Thomas to appeal his case. Joe reminds her of her dead brother Daniel so she goes above and beyond to get him acquitted. Carla, on the other hand, is having a hard time fitting in. She has moved into another school because the kids from the previous school were mean to her. In this new school, life still doesn’t go according to her plans. Life at home isn’t so great either because her mom loves a man who already have a family of his own. Some lies are caught and the past sticks around to haunt the present and the future. Fast forward to 12 years later and readers will follow Carla in her early twenties and Lily in her early forties. There is also a mystery italicize narrative throughout the story that is confusing and even in the end I don’t know if it belongs to someone.
This book is very well written. Each page, the story becomes intriguing. I couldn’t wait to learn the secrets of all of the characters. Carla seems to notice everything, from her mom’s practiced smiles/cries in front of the mirror to her lies. I’m anticipating each page as to how the story will unfolds when the dual point of views are of an adult and a child. I haven’t read a book with this different perspectives and ended up flipping page after page. One thing that is a dead giveaway is the trouble marriage which readers are well aware of right away. If there is trouble in the marriage, anything happen afterwards is bound to happen. Also, welcoming a single woman into a home is a welcome trouble to come. Even so, I still enjoy the read greatly and I highly recommend everyone to read this book!
Pro: mystery, cover, suspense, secrets, lies, deceptions, page turner, fast paced,
Con: none
I rate it 5 stars!
***Disclaimer: Many thanks to the author Jane Corry, publisher Penguin Books, and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more reviews
July 22, 2022
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There's a Little Free Library near me that always has good mysteries in it and the last two I read were both four star reads. This is one of them. I'm actually surprised that MY HUSBAND'S WIFE has such low ratings, but on the other hand, I'm also not, as the little girl character in this book is an unlikable little shit, the likes of which I haven't really seen since fucking Briony in ATONEMENT. Both of them never really "atone," and we're supposed to feel sorry for them in the end because their mistakes lead them to tragedy. Which I do, because I'm an emotional patsy. But also, I still didn't like them as people.
It's difficult to summarize this book without giving anything away. It's dual POV and dual timeline (part one takes place in the aughts, part two takes place ten years in the future). Lily is a criminal defense lawyer married to a painter, Ed. Ed's career is shaky and he's also an alcoholic. Lily makes much more money and she's in the middle of a case that could make her potentially famous if she succeeds. The two of them also have an autistic son named Tom who lives away from them, going to a boarding school that can accommodate his needs.
Carla, on the other hand, lives next door to Lily and Ed. Her mother is a beautiful woman and an immigrant from Italy. The two of them have come to England because her mother is estranged from her family, for reasons that also have to do with the man who comes over weekends to have sex with her mother (but no, he's not The Reason). Carla has a lot of emotional issues. She's a liar, a thief, and possibly sociopathic. What she wants most is what other people have, perhaps because her own life exists on such a shaky foundation. When she crosses paths with Lily, she sets the two of them on a collision course that will come full circle ten years in the future.
I really liked this book a lot. It's not really a thriller-thriller; the focus is the book is more on the complex relationships between all the characters, and ALL of them have done terrible things. Which I think is why maybe people don't like this book. It's hard to read something and not have someone to root for. On the other hand, I always have a healthy amount of respect for authors who can write about unlikable people and still make them interesting, realistic, and complex. The ending was pretty satisfying, albeit bittersweet, although I wouldn't say it was particularly happy, either.
If you enjoy reading books that show people at their worst, and what they do when they get backed into a corner and desperate, this will be a great book for you. I'm definitely interested in reading more of this author's work. This would make a great TV mini-series, imo.
3.5 to 4 stars
February 21, 2017
The title to this book is what made me want to read it. Everyone was full of secrets, lies, and deception. Quite enjoyable!!
Read
May 20, 2023Instead of explaining the reasons why I disliked My Husband's Wife, I'll share a few excerpts.
Spoilers ahead.
Yes. People do that all the time.
If you were really content with your own company, then you wouldn't have agreed to marry a man you barely know after two dates.
He simply asked if you're visiting someone in prison. Which you are. As his lawyer. You don't have to be a do-gooder who 'befriends the wicked' in order to visit someone in prison.
First of all, you don't know that he's a murderer. Second of all, why wouldn't a murderer look after goldfish?
The reason you feel shocked and like you don't know him at all, is because you don't know him at all. You've been on two dates and married for a month.
This is a convice that's setting up little challenges for his lawyer and if she passes the tests, then he'll deem her worthy enough to handle his case. I hoped she would just quit and leave him to play games by himself in prison but, alas, that doesn't happen.
These people are supposed to be adults.
You can. And he did.
Are you telling me that in all your life you've only loved your husband, your brother and a horse?
If anything, shouldn't the fact that you could hear the TV through the walls actually prove that you could definitely hear screams through the walls? I don't think Tony is as good as you think.
But this isn't real life, it's a book, in which the coincidences are contrived.
Okay, but this is a magazine. No matter where you open it there's going to be two pages, the left one and the right one. One odd-numbered and one even-numbered. How will this work?
Let's give him an award for the gesture doing housework in his own fucking house.
You sound like terrible parents.
I actually agree with this.
Spoilers ahead.
"Can a man ever be friends with a woman when the relationship is over?"
Yes. People do that all the time.
"I find this unnerving. Not so long ago, I was independent. Content with my own company. But from the minute that Ed and I first spoke at that party six months ago (just six months!), I've felt both strengthened and weakened at the same time."
If you were really content with your own company, then you wouldn't have agreed to marry a man you barely know after two dates.
"'Ta.' His voice is pleased but his eyes troubled. 'Prison visiting, are you?'
I hesitate. Is that what he has me down as? One of those do-gooders who feel it's their duty to befriend the wicked?"
He simply asked if you're visiting someone in prison. Which you are. As his lawyer. You don't have to be a do-gooder who 'befriends the wicked' in order to visit someone in prison.
"Three men are waiting, as if loitering on a street. They all stare. A fourth man is busy cleaning out a goldfish tank, his back to us. It strikes me as being incongruous -murderers looking after goldfish?"
First of all, you don't know that he's a murderer. Second of all, why wouldn't a murderer look after goldfish?
"Ed's hand grips mine so hard that it hurts. Then he releases me and moves away. 'Lily's got a headache.'
No, I haven't, I almost say.
[...]
I stand back, shocked. Despite his ups and downs, Ed has never shouted at me before."
The reason you feel shocked and like you don't know him at all, is because you don't know him at all. You've been on two dates and married for a month.
"'Why couldn't you just have told me about the boiler figures at the start? It would have saved a lot of time.'
'I told you before. I had to set you the clues to see if you were bright enough to handle my case. I must have someone who's on my level for this. Someone on the ball.'"
This is a convice that's setting up little challenges for his lawyer and if she passes the tests, then he'll deem her worthy enough to handle his case. I hoped she would just quit and leave him to play games by himself in prison but, alas, that doesn't happen.
"There was a sigh. 'Davina is going round telling everyone that she had a drink with Ed last Tuesday. I'm sure it's nothing. Look, maybe I shouldn't have said anything. But if I were you, I'd do something about it.'
'What?' My voice came out like a croak.
'Have her to dinner this very week. Have lots of people to dinner. Show her you're a couple.'"
These people are supposed to be adults.
"As we go out of the room, I shoot Joe an 'I'm sorry' look. I can't help it. His reaction to the note has helped to convince me once and for all that he's innocent. You can't fake that kind of thing."
You can. And he did.
"It seems to me that I stain whoever I try to love. Daniel, Daniel's horse, Ed... Who is next?"
Are you telling me that in all your life you've only loved your husband, your brother and a horse?
'Can you describe your new neighbours, Mr. and Mrs. Jones?' Tony asks.
The young man sighs audibly. 'Difficult. We complained about the noise of their television. First to them, but when they ignored us, we wrote to the council, but nothing's changed. It's become completely unbearable. We've put in for another place.'
'Would you believe their claims of hearing screaming from the deceased's home?'
'Frankly, I'd be surprised if they could hear anything above the sound of their television.'
I knew Tony was good. But not this good.
If anything, shouldn't the fact that you could hear the TV through the walls actually prove that you could definitely hear screams through the walls? I don't think Tony is as good as you think.
"Coincidences are one of those things which sound contrived until they happen in real life."
But this isn't real life, it's a book, in which the coincidences are contrived.
"A decision has to be made. One way or the other. A coin. Daniel used to toss a coin when he didn't know what to do. I pick up a magazine that I've left by the side of the bath. If I open on a page with an odd number, I'll leave. If it's even, I'll stay."
Okay, but this is a magazine. No matter where you open it there's going to be two pages, the left one and the right one. One odd-numbered and one even-numbered. How will this work?
"Now he's at home during the day, he's started doing the housework while searching for a new job -something I'm sure his traditional parents would be shocked at. He doesn't do it as well as I would, but I appreciate the gesture."
Let's give him an award for the gesture doing housework in his own fucking house.
Tom had been allowed to go to the local school, despite his special needs; partly because of our local connections, and partly because we'd argued that we wanted him to be in mainstream schooling. If he was with others 'like him', Ed had argued, Tom wouldn't have any role models to help him improve.
You sound like terrible parents.
"Besides, who wants an unfaithful husband? Good-quality wine glasses are far more useful."
I actually agree with this.
August 16, 2016
“A great marriage is not when the 'perfect couple' comes together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences.”
----Dave Meurer
Jane Corry, an English author, pens her debut psychological thriller, My Husband's Wife that narrates the story of a couple who goes through ups and downs in their newly marital life, through many years, but their past mistakes and their involvement in the life of a notorious and sly criminal and a sweet little girl, comes haunting back at them ages later, and that can either destroy their relationship or can kill them.
Synopsis:
It's the perfect love story.
Lily meets Ed at a party, and on their second date, he proposes. She's a lawyer, he's an up-and-coming artist. They own a small but beautiful flat in London and mix with all the right people.
But Lily has a secret. Something from her past, that is soon to collide with her present. And she thinks her new husband is hiding something too...
The vows they made will soon be tested to the very limits.
'Till death us do part...'
Lily believes that she has finally be able to move on from her hurtful and dark past memories as she vows to be with her perfect husband, Ed. But the newly weds have no idea about each others' secrets that can destroy them. Lily has just begun her job as a solicitor after a week long of romantic honeymoon in Italy, and Ed is doing well at his advertising firm as well as with his part-time painting dreams. Lily is assigned to a case of Joe Thomas, who has appealed to the court, accused of murdering his girlfriend, but with the progress of the case, Lily somehow connects with a criminal in an emotional level. Moreover, both Ed and Lily also gets involved into the lives of their neighbor, an Italian woman with a little daughter, Carla. But little did they knew that, meddling with other people's lives, might force them to pay a heavy price may be with the cost of their marriage and their life.
Talk about layers! This is the one such book that I came across in quite a while, which is so high in multi-dimensional layers not only within the story line, but also in the mystery and also among the characters. Right from the very start, the story begins pulling me into its deepest, darkest and craziest maze of mystery, and till the midway into the story, I could not afford to turn away my head from this book. The author did a great job in playing games with my mind as well as twisting my mind into so many knots that I finally had to rely on the author's power to unravel the mystery layer-by-layer.
The author's writing style is articulate and is extremely deep with suspense, drama and tension that will not let the readers move from the edges of their seats. The narrative is highly arresting although at times, too much depth will leave the readers confused and puzzled, so this book demands for a lot of patience from a reader's end to enjoy the story thoroughly. The pacing of the book varies from being very slow at times to being very swift near the end.
A multi-layered story is always good for a human brain, but too many layers can mar the charm of the book and slightly that what went wrong with this book. From the start, everything was going good, unpredictable twists kept me rooted and anticipating, but midway through the book, everything mixes with one another as the author introduces more twists which are completely unnecessary to the plot of the story, leaving me baffled and forcing me to skip few lines.
The characters are really well-developed, especially the two female protagonists, where both of them evolves through life's difficult challenges even though they are psychologically flawed. Lily will appear as someone very weak or meek right in the beginning with all her past secrets, but gradually she gains power when she sees a way to win her very first case, although her insecurity over her husband's trust and love never once left her side, and that might annoy a few readers. Carla is a helpless little child who is subjected to bullies mainly because of her outlook and the fact that she has no father, but few years later, due to some incidents, she turns into a cunning and calculative woman who would pounce on her prey no matter what. The male characters, like Ed or Joe, are not at all well-etched out, as they not only lacked depth but also lacked from their backbone or strength or realism in their demeanor.
In a nutshell, the story is quite riveting as well as poignant at the same time, that begs its readers to stay glued to its very heart of the story and this book is a must read for those who fancy a powerful domestic and psychological thriller that has innumerable layers.
Verdict: A promising as well as intriguing thriller that you need to look out for in the month of August.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Jane Corry's publisher for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
----Dave Meurer
Jane Corry, an English author, pens her debut psychological thriller, My Husband's Wife that narrates the story of a couple who goes through ups and downs in their newly marital life, through many years, but their past mistakes and their involvement in the life of a notorious and sly criminal and a sweet little girl, comes haunting back at them ages later, and that can either destroy their relationship or can kill them.
Synopsis:
It's the perfect love story.
Lily meets Ed at a party, and on their second date, he proposes. She's a lawyer, he's an up-and-coming artist. They own a small but beautiful flat in London and mix with all the right people.
But Lily has a secret. Something from her past, that is soon to collide with her present. And she thinks her new husband is hiding something too...
The vows they made will soon be tested to the very limits.
'Till death us do part...'
Lily believes that she has finally be able to move on from her hurtful and dark past memories as she vows to be with her perfect husband, Ed. But the newly weds have no idea about each others' secrets that can destroy them. Lily has just begun her job as a solicitor after a week long of romantic honeymoon in Italy, and Ed is doing well at his advertising firm as well as with his part-time painting dreams. Lily is assigned to a case of Joe Thomas, who has appealed to the court, accused of murdering his girlfriend, but with the progress of the case, Lily somehow connects with a criminal in an emotional level. Moreover, both Ed and Lily also gets involved into the lives of their neighbor, an Italian woman with a little daughter, Carla. But little did they knew that, meddling with other people's lives, might force them to pay a heavy price may be with the cost of their marriage and their life.
Talk about layers! This is the one such book that I came across in quite a while, which is so high in multi-dimensional layers not only within the story line, but also in the mystery and also among the characters. Right from the very start, the story begins pulling me into its deepest, darkest and craziest maze of mystery, and till the midway into the story, I could not afford to turn away my head from this book. The author did a great job in playing games with my mind as well as twisting my mind into so many knots that I finally had to rely on the author's power to unravel the mystery layer-by-layer.
The author's writing style is articulate and is extremely deep with suspense, drama and tension that will not let the readers move from the edges of their seats. The narrative is highly arresting although at times, too much depth will leave the readers confused and puzzled, so this book demands for a lot of patience from a reader's end to enjoy the story thoroughly. The pacing of the book varies from being very slow at times to being very swift near the end.
A multi-layered story is always good for a human brain, but too many layers can mar the charm of the book and slightly that what went wrong with this book. From the start, everything was going good, unpredictable twists kept me rooted and anticipating, but midway through the book, everything mixes with one another as the author introduces more twists which are completely unnecessary to the plot of the story, leaving me baffled and forcing me to skip few lines.
The characters are really well-developed, especially the two female protagonists, where both of them evolves through life's difficult challenges even though they are psychologically flawed. Lily will appear as someone very weak or meek right in the beginning with all her past secrets, but gradually she gains power when she sees a way to win her very first case, although her insecurity over her husband's trust and love never once left her side, and that might annoy a few readers. Carla is a helpless little child who is subjected to bullies mainly because of her outlook and the fact that she has no father, but few years later, due to some incidents, she turns into a cunning and calculative woman who would pounce on her prey no matter what. The male characters, like Ed or Joe, are not at all well-etched out, as they not only lacked depth but also lacked from their backbone or strength or realism in their demeanor.
In a nutshell, the story is quite riveting as well as poignant at the same time, that begs its readers to stay glued to its very heart of the story and this book is a must read for those who fancy a powerful domestic and psychological thriller that has innumerable layers.
Verdict: A promising as well as intriguing thriller that you need to look out for in the month of August.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Jane Corry's publisher for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
March 2, 2017
Is it possible to write a readable novel that will keep you turning pages, yet about unlikable characters? This book shows that it is. It was strangely compelling reading despite the fact there is not one likable character in it. The story is told from two points of view. One is that of Lily newly married to Ed. The other is that of the child Carla and her Italian mother who live on the same floor of the apartment building. Each of these characters feels unloved at times. Their behaviour reflects the way they feel. Lily always feels unworthy of love because of events that happened in the past. Her brother Daniel is a palpable presence throughout the book. Carla is a manipulative child who grows up into a manipulative, bitter adult. Ed is a not so successful artist with an obsession for painting the child Carla after Lily agrees to babysit her occasionally for her mother. Joe Thomas has been imprisoned for the death of his girlfriend. But is he guilty? When Lily meets him in prison to start his appeal of his conviction and sentence, she feels attracted to him. He reminds her of her brother Daniel who also had Asperger’s. She is convinced Joe is innocent. Is he? He does have a large part to play in the way the story develops.
Even though I couldn’t relate to the characters, I still kept turning the pages. so that says a lot about the author’s story telling. I wanted to see how it all played out. When I had finished, I was left feeling unsettled. I would rather finish a book and end up feeling good or thinking about the characters and their choices. In this case I was happy to put them all out of my mind and turn to something else. But well done to this author for keeping me turning the pages on this one, even though at times I found credibility stretched a bit. A lot will depend on your outlook as to whether you love this or end up feeling as I did.
Even though I couldn’t relate to the characters, I still kept turning the pages. so that says a lot about the author’s story telling. I wanted to see how it all played out. When I had finished, I was left feeling unsettled. I would rather finish a book and end up feeling good or thinking about the characters and their choices. In this case I was happy to put them all out of my mind and turn to something else. But well done to this author for keeping me turning the pages on this one, even though at times I found credibility stretched a bit. A lot will depend on your outlook as to whether you love this or end up feeling as I did.
February 22, 2018
I've been wanting to read this book ever since I first saw the cover on a shelf probably at least a year ago. Why I didn't pick it up, I have no clue. Eventually, I had to have it. I read a few reviews, saw that most people thought it was pretty good, and figured it was finally time.
Long story short, I should've picked this one up ages ago.
For some reason I love domestic thrillers. There's something so "close to home" about the relationship between the protagonist and antagonist and how they coexist that gets me. I swear, every review I write makes me out to be some sort of crazy person but the more insane and psychopathic the characters, the more I tend to love them. Make of that what you will.
The best thing about this book is that it's not just one antagonist - at some point, everyone in the cast seems to play that role. It makes for a very interesting dynamic and one that was never at any point boring or predictable. I also found that at various points each character played a role where you felt a level of endearment toward them - any author that can make me both love and hate a character within the span of 400 pages is truly talented in my eyes.
What did I think?: Honestly, this is one of my favorite books that I've read in a long time. I was impressed not just with the story but also the flow of writing and how the different perspectives didn't feel clunky or irritating. I was left with cliff-hangers that kept me up well past my bedtime.
Who should read it?: If you enjoy thrillers and enjoy the unique relationships that can exist between characters that genuinely dislike one another, this is going to be a good choice for you. I can't recommend it enough, especially if you're a fan of legal or courtroom dramas as it has enough of that to qualify but not enough that you feel bogged down in it.
WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
Long story short, I should've picked this one up ages ago.
For some reason I love domestic thrillers. There's something so "close to home" about the relationship between the protagonist and antagonist and how they coexist that gets me. I swear, every review I write makes me out to be some sort of crazy person but the more insane and psychopathic the characters, the more I tend to love them. Make of that what you will.
The best thing about this book is that it's not just one antagonist - at some point, everyone in the cast seems to play that role. It makes for a very interesting dynamic and one that was never at any point boring or predictable. I also found that at various points each character played a role where you felt a level of endearment toward them - any author that can make me both love and hate a character within the span of 400 pages is truly talented in my eyes.
What did I think?: Honestly, this is one of my favorite books that I've read in a long time. I was impressed not just with the story but also the flow of writing and how the different perspectives didn't feel clunky or irritating. I was left with cliff-hangers that kept me up well past my bedtime.
Who should read it?: If you enjoy thrillers and enjoy the unique relationships that can exist between characters that genuinely dislike one another, this is going to be a good choice for you. I can't recommend it enough, especially if you're a fan of legal or courtroom dramas as it has enough of that to qualify but not enough that you feel bogged down in it.
WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
February 2, 2021
Thankfully I've read and enjoyed a few Corry novels that I was happy to give this overly long debut more of a chance to win me over, especially as it was hard to connect with the main characters in the opening few chapters.
The story is told through two POVs:
Newlywed Lilly has just qualified lawyer who's hopefully that the current case will be her big breakthrough.
Having only recently met Ed 6 months previously, the cracks are already forming in their whirlwind romance.
Whilst nine year old Carla doesn't quite fit in, as her mum is more interested in having sex with her boyfriend than looking after her daughter - the young girl is looked after by Lilly and Ed at weekends.
All this is set around 2000/01 where the case that Lilly is involved in was the most interesting aspect of the first half.
The story really clicks into place when the story jumps ahead 12 years and the various strands converge.
Seeing Lilly's growth during the intervening years was one of the strongest aspects, I was interested enough and despite it's length was still a relatively quick read.
The ludicrous twists were way to far fetched to take seriously though, it might have made more of an impact if I'd cared more for the characters more??
The story is told through two POVs:
Newlywed Lilly has just qualified lawyer who's hopefully that the current case will be her big breakthrough.
Having only recently met Ed 6 months previously, the cracks are already forming in their whirlwind romance.
Whilst nine year old Carla doesn't quite fit in, as her mum is more interested in having sex with her boyfriend than looking after her daughter - the young girl is looked after by Lilly and Ed at weekends.
All this is set around 2000/01 where the case that Lilly is involved in was the most interesting aspect of the first half.
The story really clicks into place when the story jumps ahead 12 years and the various strands converge.
Seeing Lilly's growth during the intervening years was one of the strongest aspects, I was interested enough and despite it's length was still a relatively quick read.
The ludicrous twists were way to far fetched to take seriously though, it might have made more of an impact if I'd cared more for the characters more??
September 22, 2016
With a clever title, this dark psychological thriller is a perfect example of a new wave of the genre which has excited readers for the past couple of years (think Girl on a Train, Gone Girl etc). This is very much a story of two halves, told from the perspective of Lily, a newly qualified lawyer desperate to leave her mark on the world as she struggles to adapt to her young marriage to Ed, the self-confessed artistic genius. Meanwhile, across the hall, lives nine year old Carla and her mother - Italians, shunned from their own community due to Carla's hertiage, that being she was born out of wedlock.
I enjoyed the fact the story included narration from Carla, although I felt this could have more of an impact had it been told from first-person perspective. Having said that, the author decently manages to uphold the thoughts and sometime irrational actions of this troubled young girl. The story overall was extremely enjoyable and I felt, a very unique idea. As a line in the book so beautifully illustrates, humans are a bundle of contradicitons, all of the characters are challenging at times and many hold their own demons. There was also enough interesting sub-plots to keep the reader interested throughout until the final showdown, as it were, comes to pass.
Some parts of the story are very much tongue-in-cheek and cross boundaries into which some readers might find surprising; indeed, I felt Lily and Ed's relationship with their son (who has behavioural and developmental issues) to be appropriately recorded. Perhaps the author has some first hand experience of people with learning difficulties, which could explain how she was able to create a very realistic "life-is-not-a-bed-of-roses" picture of the reality of caring for someone with autism.
There is so much more I want to say in my review but I fear it would spoil some of the story for prospective readers..! I believe this to be the authors debut - lets hope its not beginners luck and she continues to write like this, as she is surely destined for a career in writing psychological thrillers.
I enjoyed the fact the story included narration from Carla, although I felt this could have more of an impact had it been told from first-person perspective. Having said that, the author decently manages to uphold the thoughts and sometime irrational actions of this troubled young girl. The story overall was extremely enjoyable and I felt, a very unique idea. As a line in the book so beautifully illustrates, humans are a bundle of contradicitons, all of the characters are challenging at times and many hold their own demons. There was also enough interesting sub-plots to keep the reader interested throughout until the final showdown, as it were, comes to pass.
Some parts of the story are very much tongue-in-cheek and cross boundaries into which some readers might find surprising; indeed, I felt Lily and Ed's relationship with their son (who has behavioural and developmental issues) to be appropriately recorded. Perhaps the author has some first hand experience of people with learning difficulties, which could explain how she was able to create a very realistic "life-is-not-a-bed-of-roses" picture of the reality of caring for someone with autism.
There is so much more I want to say in my review but I fear it would spoil some of the story for prospective readers..! I believe this to be the authors debut - lets hope its not beginners luck and she continues to write like this, as she is surely destined for a career in writing psychological thrillers.
September 7, 2017
3.5 Stars!
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway. The plot was intriguing and the cover immediately caught my eye, but something just fell short. Perhaps it was that I found none of the characters to be likable or relatable? Or that the book felt like it tried to do too many things.
I felt uncomfortable reading this and kept wanting to rush through to move on to other books, but, despite my complaints, this was an enjoyable and speedy read.
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway. The plot was intriguing and the cover immediately caught my eye, but something just fell short. Perhaps it was that I found none of the characters to be likable or relatable? Or that the book felt like it tried to do too many things.
I felt uncomfortable reading this and kept wanting to rush through to move on to other books, but, despite my complaints, this was an enjoyable and speedy read.
March 23, 2018
Well this wasn't that great to me. We have two characters that were terrible in their own ways and I guess what the author considered twists/reveals. In the end the lack of development and interesting plot left me bored when the book finally gets to the end. I would call this out as similar to "The Girl Before" with two women who should know better getting involved with sub-par men. It drives me up the wall that the big thing in this genre now is a woman who either is being lied to by a man and or is lying to a man. The woman is probably blonde and or attractive. And the man in question may as well hold up a sign saying "I am evil" and the woman ignores all warning signs about the man and just goes traipsing along like it's not a big deal.
"My Husband's Wife" has two main characters, Lily and Carla. The book starts off with newly married Lily working on a potential case of an innocent man who was tried and convicted for the murder of his live in girlfriend.
Carla is Lily's 9 year old neighbor. Carla is dealing with her mother and her being gone a lot now that her mother is dating someone named Larry. Carla wishes that her mother was home more and wants more than anything to be rid of Larry.
Eventually the two characters stories sync up (it takes a little bit) when Lily comes home one day and finds Carla injured after an incident at her school. Carla's mother then starts to depend on Lily and her husband Ed to watch Carla for her.
Eventually things come to a head and the story skips ahead 16 years later when Carla is in her late 20s and Lily is in her 40s or I think just turned 40. The time jumps got to me after a while and I stopped paying attention.
Lily has issues galore. She is still shaken over the death of her brother from about a decade ago. She loves her new husband, but feels like he is only with her out of charity. The angst you get from Lily concerning that her husband can't love a woman her size (she's a 14) and the anger she has about his ex girlfriend is constant in the early part of the book. Lily also is naive as anything. She starts obsessing about the convicted criminal whose case she is working on who reminds her of her brother. That says it all right there right?
Carla is not a great character as child and it's even worse when she pops back up again as an adult. Carla runs around thinking she is owed something and uses her looks to get back at those she thinks have wronged her.
I have to say that books that come out saying they are a psychological thriller should actually be a psychological thriller. There is no "there" in this book. The author takes us down a long winding road to get to what happened with LIly's brother. And then it doesn't make sense to me when we get the reveal why in the world did Lily's mother react this way to her son's death (pretending he's not dead). I just rolled my eyes.
The writing wasn't great and the flow was awful. I think having an adult and a child as the main characters for the first half wasn't that great of an idea. It also grossed me out a bit when we get to the second part of the book when you read about Carla and who she eventually gets involved with.
The setting of London ends up reading as bleak and oppressive. Everyone is a liar and everyone is grossly unhappy.
The ending fizzled out a lot. It was just more justifications for the character of Lily to make about why she's a terrible person, but has reasons for it.
"My Husband's Wife" has two main characters, Lily and Carla. The book starts off with newly married Lily working on a potential case of an innocent man who was tried and convicted for the murder of his live in girlfriend.
Carla is Lily's 9 year old neighbor. Carla is dealing with her mother and her being gone a lot now that her mother is dating someone named Larry. Carla wishes that her mother was home more and wants more than anything to be rid of Larry.
Eventually the two characters stories sync up (it takes a little bit) when Lily comes home one day and finds Carla injured after an incident at her school. Carla's mother then starts to depend on Lily and her husband Ed to watch Carla for her.
Eventually things come to a head and the story skips ahead 16 years later when Carla is in her late 20s and Lily is in her 40s or I think just turned 40. The time jumps got to me after a while and I stopped paying attention.
Lily has issues galore. She is still shaken over the death of her brother from about a decade ago. She loves her new husband, but feels like he is only with her out of charity. The angst you get from Lily concerning that her husband can't love a woman her size (she's a 14) and the anger she has about his ex girlfriend is constant in the early part of the book. Lily also is naive as anything. She starts obsessing about the convicted criminal whose case she is working on who reminds her of her brother. That says it all right there right?
Carla is not a great character as child and it's even worse when she pops back up again as an adult. Carla runs around thinking she is owed something and uses her looks to get back at those she thinks have wronged her.
I have to say that books that come out saying they are a psychological thriller should actually be a psychological thriller. There is no "there" in this book. The author takes us down a long winding road to get to what happened with LIly's brother. And then it doesn't make sense to me when we get the reveal why in the world did Lily's mother react this way to her son's death (pretending he's not dead). I just rolled my eyes.
The writing wasn't great and the flow was awful. I think having an adult and a child as the main characters for the first half wasn't that great of an idea. It also grossed me out a bit when we get to the second part of the book when you read about Carla and who she eventually gets involved with.
The setting of London ends up reading as bleak and oppressive. Everyone is a liar and everyone is grossly unhappy.
The ending fizzled out a lot. It was just more justifications for the character of Lily to make about why she's a terrible person, but has reasons for it.
August 1, 2016
A whirlwind romance and a proposal on the second date a recipe for disaster for sure.
Lily meets Ed at a party. She is an up and coming Lawyer and he is an inspiring artist.
In the same building as Lily and Ed live is Carla and Francesca. Carla was just 9 years old when they met her.
Francesca was disowned by her family when she discovers she was pregnant and the Father was a married man.
Soon the cracks start to appear in Lily and Ed's marriage and Lily now regrets getting married.
Another fantastic debut novel and I'm already looking forward to reading more from the author in future.
I would like to thank Net Galley, Penguin Books (UK) and the author Jane Corry for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Lily meets Ed at a party. She is an up and coming Lawyer and he is an inspiring artist.
In the same building as Lily and Ed live is Carla and Francesca. Carla was just 9 years old when they met her.
Francesca was disowned by her family when she discovers she was pregnant and the Father was a married man.
Soon the cracks start to appear in Lily and Ed's marriage and Lily now regrets getting married.
Another fantastic debut novel and I'm already looking forward to reading more from the author in future.
I would like to thank Net Galley, Penguin Books (UK) and the author Jane Corry for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 21, 2017
3.5stars: “My Husband’s Wife” is an interesting thriller in that the thriller part doesn’t really take hold until last half of the novel. From page one, the reader learns of the death of Ed Macdonald. From there, the story is told in Part One: Fifteen Years Earlier.
Author Jane Corry builds suspense with the voice of the narrator Lily who from the start of the novel lets the reader know that she is holding secrets. Lily continues to hint of the secrets of her past all through the novel. When the story opens, Lily, who is beginning her career as a lawyer, is recently married after a quick courtship. She is questioning her husband’s true love for her. She’s incredibly insecure in her marriage, and uncomfortable in her skills as a lawyer. Her first case is a murder conviction that her firm is interested in overturning.
A young girl, Carla, whose story is told second person, tells the alternating chapters. Carla lives with her mother next door to Lily. By happenstance, the two lives entwine.
From Carla’s chapters, the reader knows Carla’s duplicities. From Lily’s chapters, there are hints and suggestions.
I didn’t particularly like Lily’s character, but I don’t think that’s important in a well-written novel. In fact, when the reader doesn’t like the protagonist yet still enjoys the novel, for me that indicates the novel’s story is written well.
Thrillers are difficult to review without spoiler alerts. This is an interesting read in the first half in that Lily’s chapters are always left with a mystery. The second half of the novel begins with the thriller part that unravels the previously indicated suspicious death of Ed. I recommend it as a solid thriller with building suspense.
Author Jane Corry builds suspense with the voice of the narrator Lily who from the start of the novel lets the reader know that she is holding secrets. Lily continues to hint of the secrets of her past all through the novel. When the story opens, Lily, who is beginning her career as a lawyer, is recently married after a quick courtship. She is questioning her husband’s true love for her. She’s incredibly insecure in her marriage, and uncomfortable in her skills as a lawyer. Her first case is a murder conviction that her firm is interested in overturning.
A young girl, Carla, whose story is told second person, tells the alternating chapters. Carla lives with her mother next door to Lily. By happenstance, the two lives entwine.
From Carla’s chapters, the reader knows Carla’s duplicities. From Lily’s chapters, there are hints and suggestions.
I didn’t particularly like Lily’s character, but I don’t think that’s important in a well-written novel. In fact, when the reader doesn’t like the protagonist yet still enjoys the novel, for me that indicates the novel’s story is written well.
Thrillers are difficult to review without spoiler alerts. This is an interesting read in the first half in that Lily’s chapters are always left with a mystery. The second half of the novel begins with the thriller part that unravels the previously indicated suspicious death of Ed. I recommend it as a solid thriller with building suspense.
September 17, 2017
Um thriller psicológico inteligente, chocante cheio de segredos e mentiras. Um livro que fala de complicações nas relações, amores impossíveis e traumas familiares. Adorei de início ao fim. Alerta-nos também para o facto de não podermos confiar em ninguém hoje em dia, às vezes as pessoas que nos são mais próximas são as que nos magoam mais.
December 1, 2017
Gostei bastante deste livro e da forma como foi escrito. Manteve-me em suspense até ao fim e só não foi perfeito porque o final não me satisfez, foi cor de rosa demais para o tipo de livro que é. Mas leiam, vão gostar sem duvida
April 25, 2017
Lily marries her husband, Ed, only six months after they meet. Lily's adolescence has been marked by family tragedy, and she's determined to move on. But as soon as she and Ed return from their Italian honeymoon, Lily is thrown into her first murder case as a solicitor. She meets her strange client, Joe, accused of murdering his girlfriend. Lily feels an odd affinity for Joe. Soon she is consumed by his case--and Joe himself. Meanwhile, Lily's neighbor, Carla is struggling to find her footing at school. Only nine, she feels like an outsider there, where the kids tease her for being different and fatherless. Lily and Ed become involved in Carla's life--watching her occasionally for her mother--but they have no idea how entwined their lives will become.
This novel is not exactly suspenseful (we're not truly solving a crime, but instead looking into the complex lives of our characters--which albeit may lead to some sort of crimes at times), but I still found it compulsively readable, consuming it in about 2 days. Lily is a unreliable narrator and as such, bits and pieces of her story unfold throughout the book, making us question exactly how much she's told us--and its veracity. There are certainly some "wow" moments as particular plot points are revealed; I appreciated Corry's ability to surprise me early on. (Even if some of these "wow" moments didn't really seem to come up again, or be completely developed into the overall thread of the narrative.)
The novel is definitely a rumination on marriage, faithfulness, and family. The alternating chapters between Lily and Carla help add some heightened tension to the plot, as does an eventual fast forward in time. None of our main characters are particularly sympathetic, but they get into your head quite effectively. The story is far more character-driven and emotional than I expected, yet there are still those "wow" moments I mentioned before. Some of the pieces fit together quite well; others not so much. There's a lot to weave in: Lily's first murder case and her pushy client, Joe; Lily's past; Lily and Ed's son; Carla and her mother; and more. Collectively, these characters bring a great deal of secrets and baggage.
I didn't find the ending completely surprising, as the novel sort of builds up to it, but it's still interesting and intriguing. I enjoyed how all the characters were interrelated and that the novel seemed focused on looking into what made them "tick." I won't lie, though, it did seem like something was missing at times: a piece of plot somewhere or something more to propel the story along. It's hard to describe, but it's almost as if the book just sort of happened, and you're like oh yeah, of course, yes, I see. By the end, nothing was really shocking, per se.
Still, I found the book incredibly readable and oddly fascinating. 3 stars.
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This novel is not exactly suspenseful (we're not truly solving a crime, but instead looking into the complex lives of our characters--which albeit may lead to some sort of crimes at times), but I still found it compulsively readable, consuming it in about 2 days. Lily is a unreliable narrator and as such, bits and pieces of her story unfold throughout the book, making us question exactly how much she's told us--and its veracity. There are certainly some "wow" moments as particular plot points are revealed; I appreciated Corry's ability to surprise me early on. (Even if some of these "wow" moments didn't really seem to come up again, or be completely developed into the overall thread of the narrative.)
The novel is definitely a rumination on marriage, faithfulness, and family. The alternating chapters between Lily and Carla help add some heightened tension to the plot, as does an eventual fast forward in time. None of our main characters are particularly sympathetic, but they get into your head quite effectively. The story is far more character-driven and emotional than I expected, yet there are still those "wow" moments I mentioned before. Some of the pieces fit together quite well; others not so much. There's a lot to weave in: Lily's first murder case and her pushy client, Joe; Lily's past; Lily and Ed's son; Carla and her mother; and more. Collectively, these characters bring a great deal of secrets and baggage.
I didn't find the ending completely surprising, as the novel sort of builds up to it, but it's still interesting and intriguing. I enjoyed how all the characters were interrelated and that the novel seemed focused on looking into what made them "tick." I won't lie, though, it did seem like something was missing at times: a piece of plot somewhere or something more to propel the story along. It's hard to describe, but it's almost as if the book just sort of happened, and you're like oh yeah, of course, yes, I see. By the end, nothing was really shocking, per se.
Still, I found the book incredibly readable and oddly fascinating. 3 stars.
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May 16, 2016
I gave up after 140 pages. The child's voice was age inappropriate and the meandering storyline held no appeal. I will pass on to guest reviewer to see if it was just me...
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