The Candidate's Husband: Behind Every Successful Woman Stands A Resentful Man...

by Wendy Sacks Jones

Politics is a ruthless business, even more so for a woman. When headteacher Kirsty’s local MP resigns after a sex scandal, she’s set on running in the by-election to replace him. She seems the ideal Labour candidate – hard-working, ambitious, and with excellent working-class credentials. Only her husband Rick is unconvinced.

When he fails to dissuade her from standing, Rick sets out to influence Kirsty’s campaign to his own advantage. Kirsty battles on in the spotlight as the domestic and the political start to collide – until a revelation from the past threatens to derail the whole operation.

The Candidate’s Husband is a story about how we deceive those closest to us – and how sometimes we deceive ourselves too.

334 pages, Paperback

Published December 9, 2025

About the author

Wendy Sacks Jones is a former BBC journalist and broadcaster, now writing novels and short stories. She helped to found the UK education charity, National Numeracy, co-edited a book about the prison charity, Fine Cell Work, and teaches English to refugees. She lives with her husband in London and has three grown-up children and three small grandchildren.

The Candidate’s Husband is her first novel and she’s working on a second.

Reviews

[Jayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Vote for "The Candidate's Husband"???
This "Candidate" book would never win an election.
😭😭😭😭😭

The premise was a WINNER:
By spotlighting the male spouse of a prospective MP and flipping the usual political-spouse script, readers are treated to a fresh new angle.
👍👍👍👍👍

Having the storyline unfold from the duo-POVs of the MP candidate and her husband was also a WINNER, revealing insight into campaign pressures experienced on both sides of a marriage.

What didn't get my vote?
THE PACING.
👎👎👎👎👎

Although the author did a superb job with characterizations, portraying a political candidate's spouse's hidden agenda, and depicting the moral gray zones of modern campaigns, the pacing was sluggish and dragged.

The story lingered waaay too long on setup, repeating campaign stress and domestic strain without pushing the plot forward.

By the time the jolting pivotal twist finally landed (at 70%), it felt overdue by a wide margin.

This 10-hour audiobook, expertly narrated by Sarah Durham and Liam Gerrard, easily could have been a 7-hour audiobook.

Both narrators gave outstanding performances that helped me reach the finish line.

[Evelyn Bella (there WILL be spoilers) · Rating 3 out of 5]

With a husband like this, who needs enemies?

Rick is a comically resentful husband but I sort of understand why he ended up that way.

Kirsty really isn't the easiest person to get along with. Constantly railroads him into a life he has no desire to live and mocks him every step of the way there😂

Still. Seeing his outrageous plans for how to navigate life as a stoic widower was funny AF. Like, she's not even dead yet💀

I don't understand how this marriage survived long enough to get here, but even beyond this, I don't understand how these two even got together in the first place.

[JG · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good read, blending an insider’s view of the business of political campaigning with an exploration of its impact on what was a pretty complicated marital relationship to begin with. Neither partner is without their flaws or over-endowed with insight into their own behaviour and its impact on the other. The reader’s sympathies shift between one to the other and back again as the clever plotting develops in a way that is really skilfully handled. And the city of Hull makes for an unusual and affectionately drawn backdrop.

[Patsy Ainger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an engrossing read from start to finish. It is apparent from the outset that the author possesses great inside knowledge of the worlds of politics, media and education. But within this fiercely competitive environment she weaves a strong human interest story about an ordinary married couple, Rick and Kirsty, and their son Adam. Another character in the book is the port city of Kingston upon Hull, which provides the backdrop to this drama of ambition, regrets, disappointments and rivalries.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Candidate’s Husband is the story of a couple being pulled in different directions during an election campaign. Whether you’re interested in politics or not, the characters and themes are universal. The dialogue and thoughts of each of the main character will pull you and have you rooting for or against them at different stages. The story really pulls the reader in, and that’s a good sign of any book.

[Anne West · Rating 5 out of 5]

An original and fast-paced debut novel.
It’s clear that a great deal of research was carried out to give a realistic background and context to the plot’s subject and development. The protagonists are believable and well described as they face both personal and political challenges. A sequel would be interesting.

[Susan Hatchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being perfectly honest I wasn't sure the subject matter would hold my attention. However, putting the spotlight on the personal side of politics added a different dimension which I found absorbing. I definitely wasn't expecting the nature of the 'reveal' towards the end.

[Katharine Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. Great character development and twisty plot which kept me gripped. C

[Ellen ONeill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed The Candidate’s Husband — it’s clever and very readable, with sharp observations and enough emotion (and politics!) to keep you gripped.

[Angela Hutchison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed reading The Candidate’s Husband. The storyline was good, and kept me guessing. I would highly recommend it. Very well paced and held my interest. Realistic characters too.

[Bee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Politics and its shenanigans! Not going to give spoilers but this would make a great ITV drama. Think Rivals by Jilly Cooper

[Gavin Lambert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read - well paced and highly engaging. I confess I didn’t warm to either of the main protagonists but enjoyed the story nonetheless.

[Susan Paton · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who’s very interested in the machinations of politics, I found this book engaging and entertaining. It’s well-plotted, with credible characters and convincing (and often very funny) dialogue. However, if I wanted to stand for office, the book might make me have second thoughts!