Four Wives

by Wendy Walker

In Wendy Walker's brilliant debut, the lives of four wives and mothers intertwine and collide in a tale of suburban angst among outrageous wealth.   On the outside, it appears as though Love Welsh, Marie Passetti, Gayle Beck and Janie Kirk lead enviable lives, with marriages to handsome, successful men; bright, happy children; and homes right out of Architectural Digest. But in the wealthy suburb of Hunting Ridge, appearances mask a deeper These four wives are anything but perfect. As they try to maintain a façade of bliss, behind closed doors they each face their own crises-infidelity, dissatisfaction, self-doubt. As springtime draws to an end, doors are both opened and closed and the women come face to face with the most difficult and heartbreaking challenge of their lives-to reconcile their innermost desires with the lives that each of them has chosen.     Four Wives shares a peek beyond the perfectly manicured lawns of Hunting Ridge—exposing a world as troubled as it is blessed.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Thriller, Contemporary, Book Club, Womens Fiction, Adult Fiction

368 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Wendy Walker is the author of psychological suspense. Her novels have been translated into 23 foreign languages, have topped bestseller lists both nationally and abroad, and have been optioned for television and film. Prior to writing, Wendy worked in banking and several areas of the law. She spent most of her childhood as a competitive figure skater. Wendy has three grown sons and resides in Connecticut.

Reviews

[Wendy Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

My very first novel! This is the story of four women who live in wealthy suburbia. When I wrote it, I was immersed in this culture, with 3 young children and many friends in town who were struggling with all kinds of issues that emerge from quitting work and staying home to raise children. I was hoping to get at the heart of many of these issues in the way I structured the characters and plot. More women's fiction than thriller, this book does still have a good amount of suspense and surprise as the four story lines twist and turn as one.

[Kristin · Rating 2 out of 5]

After I read the inside cover of this book, I thought it sounded interesting and mysterious. I was so excited to start it.

The first few chapters were a little slow. I actually caught myself thiking about other things while reading which is a never a good sign. Enter the lives of the four wives: Janie, Love, Marie and Gayle. Each one has their own mysterious life in the "manicured lawns of Huntington Ridge", although I found each life becoming more depressing than the last.

One thing I just have to mention that I thought was strange was Love's "illness". There was this whole big stink about this sharp pain in her back that kept her from walking, holding her children, and even getting out of her bed. Apparently with such severe pain, it can be easily diagosed as depression? And then at the end, after meeting with her father(who caused this crippling depression), her back pain miraculously goes away. I may be wrong here, but I have never heard of such a thing. I mean, I thought the woman had a serious disease for half of the novel.

Anyway, this is definitely not a happy-go-lucky book. Although the plot held mild interest, I actually really just couldn't wait to finish it. I even found myself skipping sentences towards the end.

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four Wives, the debut novel by Wendy Walker hits bookstores next month. I was fortunate enough to be offered an advanced reading copy for review. I don't normally say this in a review but: PRE ORDER YOURS NOW! The book is that good.

Four Wives pokes fun at Ira Levin's Stepford Wives but without the robots. Chapter Thirty is even called "Stepford Wives." But it's more than just a well-written parody about the bedroom communities of the upper middle class. These Stepford wives manage to escape their artificial world an make something of themselves.

The four wives in Walker's novel are Love, Marie, Gayle and Janie. Each woman has her own story but Walker brings these four interesting threads together at the end to provide a satisfying and thought-provoking ending. I really don't want to go into these four stories together to risk spoiling anything.

Most importantly, Walker's novel is a women coming together to bitch about how clueless men are. They may start off believing that nonsense but as the novel progresses, the four wives start to see beyond this stereotype. Walker also gives the men in the book the chance to give their points of view to round out her novel.

[Michele · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just read Big Little Lies, it's a much better version of this book.

[Reegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not what I expected from Walker after reading the rest of her novels, but I enjoyed it more than I thought I would! The characters are vibrant and well written, and it raises questions and lessons that stay with you. Recommend :)

[Jodell · Rating 2 out of 5]

So I was way confused with going between the four women in this book. I had to keep going back to the cover to remember the back story of each woman.

LOVE: a child prodigy who has a nervous breakdown at a young age, and this is how she meets her Dr. Husband. She has children and then looses her mind when her father comes back into her life.

MARIE: gives up her professional career to stay home and make baby's then becomes resentful of all the shit work a woman has to do. She to her credit is working a few days a week and of course thinks the grass may be greener on the other side after meeting a intern.

GAYLE: The richest wife in the hood comes from old money but she has secrets. She comes from a family of abuse. Then marries a man who is covertly abusive to her and her child. What shall she do? Save herself and her child or stay.

JANIE: in a loveless marriage has an affair with a man that doesn't love her and is married himself to hide the feelings of a loveless marriage.

It is funny how all these women who hve all the money they could handle and recourses to do and be whatever they want are no worse off than women who have no money or recourses. None of them are very happy and I see no gratitude in any of their lives for what they have. I didn't connect much with any of them.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four very different suburban wives living very different lives but all drawn together by their children and close proximity in the burbs. Love, a former child prodigy hiding a secret that is causing physical unexplained pain. Janie, mother of four who seems to have the perfect life but is dissatisfied with everything. Marie, a divorce attorney who just can't seem to find the spark for her own life but is captivated by her clients and intern. Gayle, the richest of them all hiding an abusive marriage and pill addiction.

Each has to face her demons and decide what's important, what they can live with and what they can't live without.

[Paulette Gerkovich · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's rare for me to pay for a book, and find it so unreadable, that I give up after 10 pages. This was that book. Formulaic (not even in a fun way) and poorly-written, I just pretended $10 fell out of my wallet so I could save myself the embarrassment of admitting I bought this. Oops! Just admitted it!

[Brenda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I never really got into this book. It was a really SLOW read but I want to find out what happened to the characters. In the end what happened was very predictable. The author could have told this story in about half the book.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know if this was a great book, but it kept me entertained for 2 days. Also my younger brother has been on bit to say how feminism took away masculinity so this take was interesting.

I did not like the Character Love's name, or her story, it was boring and I just read another book by Wendy Walker, Emma in the dark - and that was about all the narcissistic I could take .

I know this said Four Wives but I kinda wish it gave a bit more of the husband's side, it was there but not upfront.

I thought this was a Good Read. But I need a break from Wendy Walker. I also took out Don't Look for Me, and I need a fun light hearted book to wash out Four Wives.

[BookLover_Scorpio · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high expectations for Four Wives but it fell short for me. It’s about 4 well off women who live in the suburbs. They have very different lives, but have a bond because they’re kids go to school together. I found it hard to keep track of the characters in the beginning. I had to go back and look to see who was married to who, etc. I didn’t find myself liking any of the characters. They didn’t really have a lot of depth. There were characters thrown in that I thought would be part of the story line and then they were gone. I did finish it, but only because I thought there would be a twist.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story of 4 women living in suburbia. It is almost a Stepford Wives community, outwardly perfect, but looking more closely, there are deep troubles. Marriages have grown stale, there is an affair, there are secrets causing a chasm in families.
I didn’t feel invested with any of the women, and I just wanted the book to end as everyone was so unhappy.
#FourWives #WendyWalker

[Carla Sacco · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite kind of book. There are several stories going on that are all woven together with some suspense throughout. Each of the four main characters are unique and work through their own situations with intelligence. I really enjoyed reading it and will read more by this author.

[Katherine Nally · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's about 4 wives in suburbia NYC, and all of them have their own personal problems that they don't discuss with each other, all while juggling the drama of the suburbs. In the end it's about friendship, life, love, and fixing things when they go wrong.

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from the first page. A real, heart-wrenching exploration of four women navigating motherhood, marriage, and the complexities of life in an upscale suburb. This is one raw, funny, sexy, and totally captivating read.

[Sheonna Mix · Rating 3 out of 5]

It reminded me of Big Little Lies which was intriguing. But the misery of the women became too daunting. And the story of Love felt like it was trying too hard it pulled me out of the world they were building and made me question the authenticity of all the characters.

[Wendy-Lynn · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF - Can't believe this is the same author who wrote Emma in the Night which I loved.

[Sabra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I agree with another review - Big Little Lies did this better

[Rita Mahan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast moving story of wealthy wives living in the "perfect" community but each with problems in their lives.

[dottie brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not enough drama

Kept waiting for something to happen and though I know it was meant to be more cerebral, I felt it lacking.

[Victoria Shepherd · Rating 3 out of 5]

A whole lot of book - full of details but with protagonists who remain frustratingly distant.

[Sharon Murray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stepford-wives style story - light reading

[Mrs. Nangle]

The perfect summer read!! I read this in a day and it pulled me in from the start.

[Rebecca Nagrodski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting window into many different perspectives

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly well written, predictable plots and conclusions, but I did see many parts of my married life in each of the women

[Nicole Manos Ferguson · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing style was juvenile. I felt like I was reading a teen drama book for adults. I skimmed the last few chapters so I could check them off as completed.

[Lynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four wives, four families all with high flying, high earning potential & with the social lives that accompany this. Mostly for show— like getting one up on the Jone’s.
A long 354 pages…

[Denise Cote]

Didn't finish

[CATHERINE E. LOUGHLIN · Rating 4 out of 5]

Desperate housewives style book on the lives of four wives in a fancy town, friends and what goes on in their lives. Liked it.

[Kathleen Gorka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reality, suburbia. I enjoyed it!