What do you think?
Rate this book
The Other Wife
The last person she expected to see at her husband's funeral was his wife!
But having learned her husband apparently bought his engagement rings in bulk, Penny Reynolds is shocked out of her well-ordered world. She can't bring herself to hate his "wife," Susan, or toss his amazing piano-playing dog (another surprise) out on his rump. Still, she can get answers as to why her hubby led his secret life. All it takes is a little persuading before she and Susan embark on the trip of a lifetime with Harvey the Wonder Dog in tow.
As the two travel the show-dog circuit, Penny learns not just how to teach the dog to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner," but also how to let go. She finds her answers (some less welcome than others). But thanks to her ex's legacy and Harvey's "amazing" trainer, Penny's ready to run with whatever curveball life throws at her!
But having learned her husband apparently bought his engagement rings in bulk, Penny Reynolds is shocked out of her well-ordered world. She can't bring herself to hate his "wife," Susan, or toss his amazing piano-playing dog (another surprise) out on his rump. Still, she can get answers as to why her hubby led his secret life. All it takes is a little persuading before she and Susan embark on the trip of a lifetime with Harvey the Wonder Dog in tow.
As the two travel the show-dog circuit, Penny learns not just how to teach the dog to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner," but also how to let go. She finds her answers (some less welcome than others). But thanks to her ex's legacy and Harvey's "amazing" trainer, Penny's ready to run with whatever curveball life throws at her!
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 2006
3 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Shirley Jump
443 books743 followersShirley Jump is a writing instructor and an award-winning, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Amazon, and USA Today bestselling author who has published more than 80 books in 24 countries. She has spoken all over the world about the power of narrative and how to create compelling books. A former reporter and communications director for a marketing agency, she uses her diverse background to help clients create impactful books that readers can’t down.
She knows the path to publication isn’t all rainbows and unicorns, so to help writers write their best possible book, she offers monthly Manuscript Masterminds through her website, www.WritingCompellingFiction.com.
On her channel, https://YouTube.com/@WritingCompellin..., she unlocks the secrets behind compelling novels and delves into the psychological aspect of overcoming creativity-stoppers like doubt and perfectionism. Follow her channel for more writing exercises, classes, and behind-the-scenes writing lessons or join her Manuscript Mastermind to build your tribe of like-minded writers and receive crucial feedback on your pages.
She knows the path to publication isn’t all rainbows and unicorns, so to help writers write their best possible book, she offers monthly Manuscript Masterminds through her website, www.WritingCompellingFiction.com.
On her channel, https://YouTube.com/@WritingCompellin..., she unlocks the secrets behind compelling novels and delves into the psychological aspect of overcoming creativity-stoppers like doubt and perfectionism. Follow her channel for more writing exercises, classes, and behind-the-scenes writing lessons or join her Manuscript Mastermind to build your tribe of like-minded writers and receive crucial feedback on your pages.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 16, 2022
A pleasant non challenging audiobook- must admit I had not realised it was going to be romantic fiction (I obviously did not read the synopsis with any great attention) but it made nice listening even if it was somewhat implausible.
October 18, 2022
I had such a hard time deciding how to rate this book. I enjoyed it a lot. Lots of humor and surprises, and a lovable dog to top it off! But I had difficulties with the protagonist's emotions and thinking. There may be plenty of women who would react as Penny did. But I had a hard time relating to her. She seemed more overtaken by sadness over her spouse's death (and confusion over whether or not he'd loved her) than by anger at discovering he'd been a bigamist for ten or so years. Bigamist x 3, in fact. There were just so many huge lies! I understood Penny's confusion, but she just didn't hurt enough. If she didn't really love him, that wasn't recognized, and if she did, then where was her broken heart? There was more grieving over her loss by his death than anger and grief over her loss by his betrayal. And that is so opposite to my own nature. Plot-wise, some of it didn't work. In reality, the first thing you'd do is check your spouse's will. Wives are suddenly popping up; what if there were 4, 5, 6 wives? But Penny didn't check with her attorney. Instead, she goes on a road trip to find her spouse's other wives. Pretty much to see what they had (as a person) that she didn't. The man was obviously confused, and not logical or fair or moral. In spite of the number of things that didn't work right for me, including the life event that had been Penny's big influencer, it was an entertaining read. I just had trouble with Dave and Penny, who both seemed extremely egocentric. The big save was the honesty her sister laid on her.
April 28, 2023
Update 4\24!
Okay,so it turns out this was fairly complex,as are the characters .They are far from cookie cutter and are wonderfully flawed. Its funny,painful and ultimately uplifting. The author does as good job with the psychology and motivations. The reader is initially stunned and ragey,but is then ultimately hopeful and uplifted.Usually when a cheater has passed away,we are left flailing. I saw signs of this , then fear and disappointment took over when I initially threw in the towel. I'm so glad I gave into my wishy washy and followed the urge to continue. Sweet 4 legged Harvey alone is worth the price of admission. The fact that Penny gets her answers and discovers they are favorable and then in addition finds a new love interest allows for a stunning pathway to joys you never thought you would see in this type of story.! So...say yes,give the tale time to bloom and I highly doubt you will be discontent!
50% unlikable wife...she was so self serving,at this point,do not really care to proceed to intuit his motives.Uggh,may I will go back to it at later date,simply to get answers.. 🤷
Gah,Looney and Labels me decided to continue...and Wouldn't you know I'm enjoying ! Will update...
Okay,so it turns out this was fairly complex,as are the characters .They are far from cookie cutter and are wonderfully flawed. Its funny,painful and ultimately uplifting. The author does as good job with the psychology and motivations. The reader is initially stunned and ragey,but is then ultimately hopeful and uplifted.Usually when a cheater has passed away,we are left flailing. I saw signs of this , then fear and disappointment took over when I initially threw in the towel. I'm so glad I gave into my wishy washy and followed the urge to continue. Sweet 4 legged Harvey alone is worth the price of admission. The fact that Penny gets her answers and discovers they are favorable and then in addition finds a new love interest allows for a stunning pathway to joys you never thought you would see in this type of story.! So...say yes,give the tale time to bloom and I highly doubt you will be discontent!
50% unlikable wife...she was so self serving,at this point,do not really care to proceed to intuit his motives.Uggh,may I will go back to it at later date,simply to get answers.. 🤷
Gah,Looney and Labels me decided to continue...and Wouldn't you know I'm enjoying ! Will update...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2024
It's really crazy that I didn't get to hate anyone in this book. When you think about someone secretly having another life, different wifes, a famous stage dog... it's easy to assume that the primary wifey would go nuts and you as the reader would throw the book away and never think about it again.
But as I read on, I realized that Dave wasn't as horrible a person as I had initially believed. I'm not saying what he did was right but the author's train of thought was very respectful with a topic as controversial as this.
This book was unbelievable most of the times, it was hilarious, kind of sad, and the perfect recipe for a nice movie.
It struck me that this book was published on 2006 and it talked about childhood trauma and its effects in adulthood in such a healthy and respectful way. I loved that part of the book.
It was some clichés, things that work out too well, situations that solved in a very convenient way. But it was enjoyable. Penny grows so much, and Harvey is the most wonderful dog.
But as I read on, I realized that Dave wasn't as horrible a person as I had initially believed. I'm not saying what he did was right but the author's train of thought was very respectful with a topic as controversial as this.
This book was unbelievable most of the times, it was hilarious, kind of sad, and the perfect recipe for a nice movie.
It struck me that this book was published on 2006 and it talked about childhood trauma and its effects in adulthood in such a healthy and respectful way. I loved that part of the book.
It was some clichés, things that work out too well, situations that solved in a very convenient way. But it was enjoyable. Penny grows so much, and Harvey is the most wonderful dog.
July 12, 2024
*I listened to this book via Everand
When you've listened to a certain number of books, you can't always listen to what you want.
The Jack Russel on the cover made this appealing to me. This is a finding yourself story. Penny's, our FMC, husband dies and another woman who is clearly his wife is in attendance at the funeral.
When Penny gets home from the funeral, she finds Wife #2 on her doorstep with a D O G! Penny has never wanted anything that depends on her. We spend the rest of the book on a road trip with the dog and wife #2 to find out what Dave had been up to.
Ultimately, Penny doesn't get a happy ever after, but she does find comfort in stepping outside her comfort zone, taking the dog on his tour and starts a relationship with the dog's manager. Cute.
When you've listened to a certain number of books, you can't always listen to what you want.
The Jack Russel on the cover made this appealing to me. This is a finding yourself story. Penny's, our FMC, husband dies and another woman who is clearly his wife is in attendance at the funeral.
When Penny gets home from the funeral, she finds Wife #2 on her doorstep with a D O G! Penny has never wanted anything that depends on her. We spend the rest of the book on a road trip with the dog and wife #2 to find out what Dave had been up to.
Ultimately, Penny doesn't get a happy ever after, but she does find comfort in stepping outside her comfort zone, taking the dog on his tour and starts a relationship with the dog's manager. Cute.
June 13, 2023
Light, easy reading for a couple hours at the beach.
Penny gets a big surprise when she gets summoned to the hospital. Not only has her husband died of a heart attack at 40 but his other wife shows up! She is confused and hurt. Then the other wife shows up at her house with a dog. Penny's journey of grief, confusion and self discovery is heart warming. The story spends a lot of time in Penny's head trying to figure out how she can just go back to normal but in the end, she figures out that her old normal is gone and it leads her to find new things about herself and how to let go the past.
Penny gets a big surprise when she gets summoned to the hospital. Not only has her husband died of a heart attack at 40 but his other wife shows up! She is confused and hurt. Then the other wife shows up at her house with a dog. Penny's journey of grief, confusion and self discovery is heart warming. The story spends a lot of time in Penny's head trying to figure out how she can just go back to normal but in the end, she figures out that her old normal is gone and it leads her to find new things about herself and how to let go the past.
December 18, 2021
I wasn’t sure what to think when I started The Other Wife. I thought I was going to read about Penny feeling sorry for herself, learning that her recently deceased husband was a bigamist. But that’s not at all how this played out. She went through a lot of change and growth, and who wouldn’t absolutely love Harvey, the Wonder Dog. I finished this book with a big smile on face.
April 20, 2022
Quick light read, great spring break decompression material! 🤣
May 4, 2022
Why bother writing a book if there's nothing conclusive at the end?
February 20, 2023
Not what I expected but it was a cute story of grief, betrayal, and finding yourself wrapped up in a bite sized story. The dog wound his way into her heart (and the readers).
March 18, 2023
Un libro sencillo que en algunas partes se vuelve lento. Pero una historia que a pesar de las cosas que pasan trae grandes enseñanzas.
September 19, 2023
A great little read.
I do feel that the word “bigamist” was used too much, lol.
I do feel that the word “bigamist” was used too much, lol.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2024
Nice quick read with a sad yet funny twist of events and a sweet ending
April 14, 2024
I haven’t enjoyed this genre of book in a long time. What do you do when you find out at your husband’s funeral, he might have a secret life, secret career and secret wives?
July 28, 2024
Entertaining if simplistic.
October 10, 2024
This book reads more like a journal or stream of consciousness as Penny deals with the aftermath of his husband's death and the discovery of his bigamy and starts a road of self discovery. However, to me, it seems a little fast and that only touches the surface.
Not my cup of tea.
Not my cup of tea.
August 22, 2022
3.5 rounded to 4.0
Penny Reynolds is an accountant, a well ordered housewife and now a widow. Her husband, Dave, has died of a heart attack while in bed with a beautiful young woman who turns out to be wife #2. Then “Susan” shows up at the funeral and later delivers to Penny his dog—a piano playing, dancing, trick performing Jack Russell terrier. Harvey, the Wonder Dog, has a wardrobe bigger than Penny’s, toys, treats, and a schedule of dog shows over the next few months that Harvey is entered as a contestant. Susan, Penny, and Harvey take off on a road trip to the first show hoping to reunite Harvey with his trainer and manager. Along the way both Susan and Penny discover that there was more to Dave than either one knew.
This is the first book of Shirley Jump’s work. But this romance novel was fun, her interesting characters—including the dog—and each of the main characters end up in a better place. Recommend to readers of romances, road trips, and dogs.
Penny Reynolds is an accountant, a well ordered housewife and now a widow. Her husband, Dave, has died of a heart attack while in bed with a beautiful young woman who turns out to be wife #2. Then “Susan” shows up at the funeral and later delivers to Penny his dog—a piano playing, dancing, trick performing Jack Russell terrier. Harvey, the Wonder Dog, has a wardrobe bigger than Penny’s, toys, treats, and a schedule of dog shows over the next few months that Harvey is entered as a contestant. Susan, Penny, and Harvey take off on a road trip to the first show hoping to reunite Harvey with his trainer and manager. Along the way both Susan and Penny discover that there was more to Dave than either one knew.
This is the first book of Shirley Jump’s work. But this romance novel was fun, her interesting characters—including the dog—and each of the main characters end up in a better place. Recommend to readers of romances, road trips, and dogs.
July 5, 2012
The plot sounded interesting - a woman discovers her recently deceased husband has another wife, another life and a dog. And I wasn't in the mood for anything too deep. ... it met this expectation.
It was an easy quick read ... mindless reading for the elliptical machine at the gym. Not a terribly exciting book but it was fun to read about the antics of Harvey the Wonder Dog.
It was an easy quick read ... mindless reading for the elliptical machine at the gym. Not a terribly exciting book but it was fun to read about the antics of Harvey the Wonder Dog.
April 5, 2008
Cute, light read.
November 20, 2022
Aww what a sweet story. What's started with omg what's going on ended with sweet smile. This is how life works, always for the best ❤️
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews