Nobody's Wife

This book was another good read from Sanderson. It was completely gripping from page one, so I thought for sure we would have another like her last, but unfortunately it slowed down and remained at that slower pace after about the first 1/3. It was still a great chilling read, with things happening many would definitely find twisty!! What would you do with a note telling you that your spouse is cheating?! Read this to see if Sanderson did a good job of answering what some may do! I think it was definitely an appealing case! Chills, thrills, suspense, and anger are bound to be found in this book! I will be using in a challenge and recommending to those in chapter chatter pub!

In the tradition of Hemingway's 'The Sun Also Rises'. The reader is not given an escape from reality in this story, nor does the author offer platitudes to gloss over its disturbing elements. The protagonists are neither heroes nor villains; they act, and there are consequences. The author does not presume to know (or tell) what underlies and motivates these actions. Some readers may find that unsettling. But at the end of the day, that's life- we don't always get closure or loose ends tied neatly in a bow. This book is a cut above in many ways; a work of art.

For a topic that could have been abhorrent such as a woman becoming involved in a secret affair with her sister's boyfriend, Laura Pearson handles this with narrative class and elegance. The points of view of all four characters are shown: Michael, Emily's husband who loves her to the point of adoration; Emily, Michael's wife who upon meeting her sister Josephine's boyfriend, feels things she has never felt for her husband; Josephine, who adores her boyfriend and the older sister that was like a mother to her when their own mother abandoned them; and Jack, Josephine's boyfriend who falls hard for Emily, and realizes that what he feels for Josephine is nothing in comparison. The fates of these four people become entwined in tragic and irrevocable ways, that will leave two people angry and betrayed, while two others don't know if they can ever find happiness again. Pearson did a wonderful job with character portrayal and complexity. So much so, that in the end, it's difficult to feel contempt for the ones who clearly deserve it. This novel really stands by itself on the topic of "the heart wants what the heart wants" and the consequences of following your desires.

Laura Pearson crafts this story with quite a few layers.

You have two sisters, Emily and Josephine, who have had a “we’re in this together” mindset since Josephine’s birth. They share a mother but have different fathers, which is another layer. Emily’s father passed away, whereas Josephine’s abandoned her and her family. The sister’s relationship is almost symbiotic. At one point during Emily’s wedding to Michael, he finds himself wishing his wife would look for him the way she looks for Josephine.

You have Emily’s marriage. As Linda Pearson relates the moments leading up to it, the ceremony, and the reception, you find yourself hoping Emily will be happy yet suspecting she is settling for what she thinks marriage should be. One thing is imminently clear: Michael loves her, and he deserves a wife who cherishes him as much as he cherishes Emily.

You have Josephine, still single but in a new relationship. She meets Jack and is instantly taken with him. He’s a little slower to feel the connection, but he’s good looking, charming, and creative. You can see potential for Josephine.

You have friendships. Josephine has a close bond with her friend Ben, and Jack and Michael form a friendship borne of both being writers. Well, Jack does so professionally, with Michael writing a book he hopes will be published.

Within this come the betrayals. The blurb gives you a clue: “Four people. Three couples.” I give Linda Pearson credit for making the betrayal feel almost organic. You can understand how it happens, and you might even sort of root for this couple. Yes, you know that two people will be terribly hurt, but if their relationships aren’t fulfilling to them–if they are not receiving what they need–then is it really “wrong” for them to be together?

The problem is that this book occasionally falls into a little melodrama here and there, and with four points of view, you sometimes find yourself wishing you could hurry up and get to one of the cheaters. Sometimes I found myself wondering what this book would have been like had it been written just from those two perspectives. On the other hand, you do get to know these people pretty well, and you feel like they’re fairly well developed.

Parts of this book made me cry. One character in particular is written heartbreakingly. There is a scene where this person goes to visit his/her parents, and the ache he/she feels just about rips you apart.

The ending might upset a few people. I can see why Linda Pearson felt she had to give the ending she does, but I also can see why some readers want something different. If you read this one, I’d love to know your thoughts.

Laura Pearson's second novel, Nobody's Wife, focuses on two sisters, Emily and Josephine, who have always shared everything. They're not just sisters. They're also roommates and best friends. It's always been the two of them against the world.

But change is inevitable. As the story opens, Emily has a perfect wedding to Michael. He's older than Emily, but adores and is committed to her. He's solid and safe, if not exciting. His first novel was a success, but he's been struggling to complete his second book, writing travel articles and book reviews in the interim.

Josephine finds the perfect man. Jack works in the local bookstore and writes short stories, He lives in a shabby apartment. His feelings for Josephine are genuine, but not as strong as her feelings for him.

Emily and Josephine are utterly unprepared for what happens after Josephine brings Jack to dinner at Emily and Michael's home. Jack realizes that Michael is the writer whose work he admires, and the two men strike up a friendship. Michael agrees to read Jack's work.

But something else happens on that fateful night. Something is set in motion that will change all of their lives over the course of the coming year.

Laura Pearson elevates what could have been a melodramatic, tawdry tale about infidelity, betrayal, and obsession into a complex, spellbinding examination of the relationship between the sisters and the far-reaching consequences that can result from acting upon attraction and passion.

Nobody's Wife is a character study crafted with precision, believability, and emotional authenticity. Although her characters make ill-advised decisions there are no villains in this story. Rather, Pearson examines their motivations, desires, and actions with sensitivity. As a result, the characters are empathetic -- even relatable -- and Pearson challenges her readers to contemplate what they would do if they found themselves in the same unenviable situation.

One unforgivable betrayal compels the story forward and forces each character to evaluate what matters mot to him/her -- family, loyalty, and doing the right thing vs. fulfillment of desires, surrender to romantic feelings, and respite from feeling unfulfilled.

The prologue reveals that by the end of the book only three of the four will remain and there will be "no going backwards from there." Through Pearson's restrained writing style, she takes readers on her characters' journey to that tragic point sans judgment. Rather, events transpire in a logical manner as the consequences of their choices are revealed.

The result is a compelling drama at the core of which is the complex, multi-layered relationship of Emily and Josephine, and the question of whether they can ever reach a point of forgiveness and resolution.

Nobody's Wife a worthy successor to Pearson's stunning debut work, Missing Pieces.

Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book.

Emily and Josephine are not only sisters they are best friends too. They’ve had to rely on and support one another since their mum moved to Australia a few years back and they had no father in the picture.

The sisters lived together with Michael, Emily’s fiancee, although he becomes her husband at the start of the book. After their marriage and honeymoon, Emily and Michael move into Emily’s old family home that had been left to the girls.

Josephine isn’t sure what she feels about Emily and Michael moving on without her but soon find a new man for herself, Jack, who quickly becomes friends with Emily and Michael. The four soon become inseparable.

However ultimate betrayal and secrets are destined to rip the group apart, forever.

I enjoyed Laura Pearson’s first book, Missing Pieces, this book though I had mixed feelings about. I enjoyed the plot and the writing kept me intrigued and always guessing what was coming next. I even read it in just two sittings. I just didn’t fully like the characters.

Michael annoyed the hell out of me. He was too needy and too lovey-dovey – This was a couple who had been together for years and yes they might have just gotten married but he was sickening sometimes with the way he thought about his wife. Such as he was jealous on his wedding day as she was looking at her sister when he was making a speech and not at him.

Emily knew she loved Michael but had big doubts about marrying him. It felt like she was going along with it all as she had nothing better going on in her life and didn’t know how to get out of the situation she’d gotten into.

Josephine sometimes felt like a spoilt brat in that she often thought about how she felt about what others were doing, how their situation would affect her.

Jack was a strange character. Conniving, completely weird, secretive and wasn’t bothered about hurting others to get what he wanted.

However, this strange and annoying mix of characters worked in the situation that Ms. Pearson had created. Would a likeable character of been so convincing in dealing with ultimate betrayals? Doubtful.

The book is raw, emotional, and completely enticing and makes you keep on reading with a desire to know what will happen next and which secret will be outed. I might not have liked the characters but I feel the book worked better this way.

Book Reviewed on Whispering Stories Blog *I received a free copy of this book, which I voluntarily reviewed

What would you do if you were betrayed by the two people you love most in the world?

And so begins this intriguing, if somewhat slow, family drama involving two sisters, Emily and Josephine; Emily's husband, Michael; and Josephine's boyfriend, Jack. This is very much a character driven novel...a slow-burning, thoughtful look at family dynamics, love, and marriage. Laura Pearson, with keen insight, has the enviable ability to pull the reader directly into her story, despite an obvious lack of action.

My main issue, and I imagine probably many of yours, as well, is that neither sister was particularly likable. At best, their choices were questionable. Throughout my time within this story, I was screaming to myself, "Why? WHY would you do that?" Personally, I liked Michael...and only Michael. Not tarnished by a degree of narcissism...he was the only truly selfless character.

The story lightly skims the surface of a one year time span, often bringing up issues, but never really completing the thought or digging deep. After reading the final page, I was plagued by the number of unanswered questions, and wondered what the point actually was? At no time during the reading of this novel did I find a reason for the two guilty parties to be doing what they were doing. Insta-love? Lust? It screamed of petty selfishness.

Nobody's Wife has the bones to be an incredibly beautiful story. Unfortunately, it never reaches that point. Instead, it feels unfinished, full of holes and, ultimately, never surpasses an average rating. 2.5 stars

"Of the four of us only three remained, and there was no going back from that."

**As always, many thanks to NetGalley, Agora Books, and Laura Pearson for an advanced reader's copy, in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a sad story about betrayal, made so much worse because the deceipt is committed by a family member. People who are unfaithful are sometimes forgiven by their partner but what are the chances of this happening when your partner cheats with your sibling? What chance is there of recreating the strong bond you once shared with this family member even if they are, as in this story a stepsister? The Dalai Lama states it is wrong to say if you don't forget you don't forgive. You must remember if you're to have learned the lesson. I agree with him. What I did like in this story was the sad tone and devastation caused by such reprehensible behaviour but I found the writing stilted. 3 and a half stars.

Three stars for being very well written ... unfortunately, I just didn’t like the story at all. The entire book is based upon an affair, but it just felt disconnected to me. The Who and The Why regarding the affair seemed outlandish and unbelievable. It’s hard to say much without giving spoilers, sorry.

I will add that this is an extremely depressing book. And that I came to despise one of the sisters and how everyone coddled her, how the author seemed to want us to have sympathy for her, no matter how evil and heartless her actions were.

The ending was just more sadness and despair — the entire story seemed to have no point, except making the reader feel awful.

All that said, I do look forward to reading more from this talented author, despite not loving this particular book.

Emily and Jack are very unlikeable. The story reads like a Jerry Springer show. None of the characters had any real depth to them. I read Missing Pieces and it was okay. Now having read this book, it seems to me that the author dwells on writing about characters in a lot of pain who become so mired in their grief and unhappiness that they are unable to move forward. It’s disconcerting to see how disposable honor, love and forgiveness is to the characters in this book and Missing Pieces. The better story would have been Emily and Jack being truthful and the trajectory of where the relationships went from there or them doing nothing and the story in that.