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The Model Wife
Even a good woman can be pushed too far...From bestselling author Tricia Stringer, this beautifully realised multi-generational family story looks at what happens when real-life betrayals and struggling relationships clash with outdated ideas of what a woman should be.
Natalie King's life is full. Some might say too full. With her teaching job, a farm to run, three grown daughters who have not quite got a handle on things, a reserved husband and a demanding mother-in-law, most days she is too busy to think about whether she is happy. But her life has meaning, doesn't it? After all, she is the one person everyone depends upon.
But when an odd gift from her mother-in-law - an old book in the form of stern and outdated advice for young wives - surfaces again, it brings with it memories she thought she had buried deep. Has this insidious little book exerted some kind of hold over her? Could it be that in her attempts to be a loving wife and mother, she no longer knows who she is?
On a day when it seems everyone is taking her for granted, and as the ghost of a past betrayal rises, it becomes clear that even this good mother and model wife can be pushed too far ...
Natalie King's life is full. Some might say too full. With her teaching job, a farm to run, three grown daughters who have not quite got a handle on things, a reserved husband and a demanding mother-in-law, most days she is too busy to think about whether she is happy. But her life has meaning, doesn't it? After all, she is the one person everyone depends upon.
But when an odd gift from her mother-in-law - an old book in the form of stern and outdated advice for young wives - surfaces again, it brings with it memories she thought she had buried deep. Has this insidious little book exerted some kind of hold over her? Could it be that in her attempts to be a loving wife and mother, she no longer knows who she is?
On a day when it seems everyone is taking her for granted, and as the ghost of a past betrayal rises, it becomes clear that even this good mother and model wife can be pushed too far ...
512 pages, ebook
First published September 23, 2019
93 people are currently reading
1046 people want to read
About the author
Tricia Stringer
27 books426 followersTricia Stringer is a bestselling and award-winning author. Among others, her books include commercial fiction titles Table For Eight, The Model Wife and The Family Inheritance, the rural romances A Chance of Stormy Weather and Come Rain or Shine and historical sagas Heart of the Country, Dust on the Horizon and Jewel in the North, set in the 19th Century Flinders Ranges. Tricia lives in the beautiful Copper Coast region of South Australia, often exploring Australia's diverse communities and landscapes, and shares this passion for the country and its people through her authentic stories and their vivid characters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
September 30, 2019
I wasn't sure about this book when I started it, but I needn't have worried as I soon became totally immersed in it. It's a look into the life of a normal everyday farming family in South Australia, and how people can become totally overwhelmed by busy lives.
Our MC is Natalie, farmer's wife, teacher, and mother to three grown daughters, two of which have left home. The third lives and works on the family property, and will eventually take it over one day. Natalie has recently had an anomalous reading in her breast scan and that, on top of all the housework and cooking at the farm, an overbearing mother in law, and a husband who's so wrapped up in his work he wont listen to her. Adding to this is her teaching job, and a new young principal who seems to think her way of doing things is outdated. When one night her other two daughters both converge on the farm with their own personal problems, and an old betrayal comes back to haunt her, Natalie finds everything is too much for her, and what follows is how she deals with it.
This is a soul searching look at one woman's struggle to find herself in a busy world where she has been taught to put everyone else's needs before her own. Natalie is looking after everybody in her life, but no one seems to be looking after, or listening to her. Overwhelmed, Natalie deals with it in the only way she can, and leaves a bewildered family behind, who suddenly have to deal with life themselves.
A timely book, The Model Wife looks at the ways life can become too much for some, and the varied way people have with dealing with stresses. The characters in this book are all realistic, all with their own stresses and personalities, and we follow them over the course of a few weeks while they deal with their problems. But don't get me wrong, this is not a depressing book, there are light moments to counteract all the trauma, and Tricia Stringer has done a great job of setting the scene, and drawing this family. I did really enjoy this book and have no hesitation in recommending it to other readers.
My thanks to Harlequin Australia for an uncorrected proof to read and review. The opinions are entirely my own.
Our MC is Natalie, farmer's wife, teacher, and mother to three grown daughters, two of which have left home. The third lives and works on the family property, and will eventually take it over one day. Natalie has recently had an anomalous reading in her breast scan and that, on top of all the housework and cooking at the farm, an overbearing mother in law, and a husband who's so wrapped up in his work he wont listen to her. Adding to this is her teaching job, and a new young principal who seems to think her way of doing things is outdated. When one night her other two daughters both converge on the farm with their own personal problems, and an old betrayal comes back to haunt her, Natalie finds everything is too much for her, and what follows is how she deals with it.
This is a soul searching look at one woman's struggle to find herself in a busy world where she has been taught to put everyone else's needs before her own. Natalie is looking after everybody in her life, but no one seems to be looking after, or listening to her. Overwhelmed, Natalie deals with it in the only way she can, and leaves a bewildered family behind, who suddenly have to deal with life themselves.
A timely book, The Model Wife looks at the ways life can become too much for some, and the varied way people have with dealing with stresses. The characters in this book are all realistic, all with their own stresses and personalities, and we follow them over the course of a few weeks while they deal with their problems. But don't get me wrong, this is not a depressing book, there are light moments to counteract all the trauma, and Tricia Stringer has done a great job of setting the scene, and drawing this family. I did really enjoy this book and have no hesitation in recommending it to other readers.
My thanks to Harlequin Australia for an uncorrected proof to read and review. The opinions are entirely my own.
June 17, 2022
EXCERPT: 'How long have you known each other?' she asked.
Faye pondered a moment. 'Thirty-five years. She's reliable in a crisis, is Dot.'
'I imagine you are too.'
'Hmmm.' Once again Faye seemed to ponder. 'Fifteen years ago both my sons got jobs overseas and in a flash they were gone. They'd been my reason for getting out of bed each day for so long, I fell in a big hole. I was fifty-three and all I'd done with my life was teach and raise two boys.'
Faye's words were like a can-opener peeling back the lid on her own life. 'What did you do?'
'I took up swimming.' Faye raised her sunglasses, looked steadily at Natalie and grinned. 'Some people buy fast cars. I have a heated lap pool in my backyard now.'
Natalie tried to think of something she was so passionate about that she would invest that sort of money in it and came up blank.
'I also went to a life coach,' Faye said. 'I only lasted one session but I came away with a nugget I've stuck by. Don't let anyone should you. Even people close to you with the best of intentions will want you to do things their way. Accepting that I had a right to do things my way helped me deal with the guilt of my marriage failure, of raising two sons without their father.'
Natalie studied Faye. Never in a million years would she have thought her the kind of person who felt guilt about divorcing an alcoholic husband. She appeared so composed and in control of her life but perhaps she hadn't always been like that.
ABOUT 'THE MODEL WIFE': Natalie King's life is full. Some might say too full. With her teaching job, a farm to run, three grown daughters who have not quite got a handle on things, a reserved husband and a demanding mother-in-law, most days she is too busy to think about whether she is happy. But her life has meaning, doesn't it? After all, she is the one person everyone depends upon.
But when an odd gift from her mother-in-law - an old book in the form of stern and outdated advice for young wives - surfaces again, it brings with it memories she thought she had buried deep. Has this insidious little book exerted some kind of hold over her? Could it be that in her attempts to be a loving wife and mother, she no longer knows who she is?
On a day when it seems everyone is taking her for granted, and as the ghost of a past betrayal rises, it becomes clear that even this good mother and model wife can be pushed too far
MY THOUGHTS: The Model Wife is a multi-generational family drama about struggling relationships, betrayal and the stress caused by not only the expectations people place on others, but also the expectations we place on ourselves.
The title of this book is taken from a book passed down from generation to generation of the women in this family. It's full of advice for women in the early eighteen hundreds, and the chapter headings are things like The Husband is Master and Family Before all Else. Natalie has somewhat of a love/hate relationship with the book. Although she outwardly acknowledges that it has little relevance to modern life, she can't bring herself to toss it out and sees herself as a failure when she measures herself against the advice in the book.
Feeling overwhelmed by her demanding family, a health scare, and a betrayal from the past that seems to be creeping into her current life, she decides to take some time out and sets off to Brisbane to visit her best friend Brenda and hopefully get a better perspective on her life.
I loved the characters in this book, well all except Connie. Every family unfortunately has to have a Connie. I think most women will be able to relate to Natalie, working outside the home, trying to do everything around the home, support her husband and daughters, care for her mother-in-law, and deal with all the paperwork associated with a business.
Her daughters are all very different women. Kate, the eldest is married to Sean, childless, and runs the office of her
husband's family transport business. They live some distance from Natalie and Milt. Bree, the middle daughter, loves the outdoors, and works on the property with Milt, not always amiably. Laura, the youngest, is a hairdresser and the creative daughter. She seems to always be upsetting her father with her hair, her makeup, her friends.
The situations and emotions that Tricia Stringer depicts are all very real, and that is probably the thing I love most about this author's writing. She's also able to portray the setting and community with great skill.
Although this book is almost 500 pages, it kept my interest t and I was sad to come to the end. There are little nuggets of wisdom scattered throughout. I got a bit emotional in places.
A fulfilling read.
'Holidays are good but you still have to go home.'
'It's a mother's lot to worry about (her) kids, feel we should have been there more, done things differently....we can't go back. We just have to learn to carry the guilt as best we can.'
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#TheModelWife
I: : @triciastringerauthor @hqstories
T: @tricia_stringer @HQstories
#australianfiction #contemporaryfiction #familydrama #sliceoflife #womensfiction
THE AUTHOR: Tricia lives in the beautiful Copper Coast region of South Australia, often exploring Australia's diverse communities and landscapes, and shares this passion for the country and its people through her authentic stories and their vivid characters.
DISCLOSURE: I borrowed a copy of The Model Wife by Tricia Stringer published by HQ Fiction from the Waitomo District Library. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Faye pondered a moment. 'Thirty-five years. She's reliable in a crisis, is Dot.'
'I imagine you are too.'
'Hmmm.' Once again Faye seemed to ponder. 'Fifteen years ago both my sons got jobs overseas and in a flash they were gone. They'd been my reason for getting out of bed each day for so long, I fell in a big hole. I was fifty-three and all I'd done with my life was teach and raise two boys.'
Faye's words were like a can-opener peeling back the lid on her own life. 'What did you do?'
'I took up swimming.' Faye raised her sunglasses, looked steadily at Natalie and grinned. 'Some people buy fast cars. I have a heated lap pool in my backyard now.'
Natalie tried to think of something she was so passionate about that she would invest that sort of money in it and came up blank.
'I also went to a life coach,' Faye said. 'I only lasted one session but I came away with a nugget I've stuck by. Don't let anyone should you. Even people close to you with the best of intentions will want you to do things their way. Accepting that I had a right to do things my way helped me deal with the guilt of my marriage failure, of raising two sons without their father.'
Natalie studied Faye. Never in a million years would she have thought her the kind of person who felt guilt about divorcing an alcoholic husband. She appeared so composed and in control of her life but perhaps she hadn't always been like that.
ABOUT 'THE MODEL WIFE': Natalie King's life is full. Some might say too full. With her teaching job, a farm to run, three grown daughters who have not quite got a handle on things, a reserved husband and a demanding mother-in-law, most days she is too busy to think about whether she is happy. But her life has meaning, doesn't it? After all, she is the one person everyone depends upon.
But when an odd gift from her mother-in-law - an old book in the form of stern and outdated advice for young wives - surfaces again, it brings with it memories she thought she had buried deep. Has this insidious little book exerted some kind of hold over her? Could it be that in her attempts to be a loving wife and mother, she no longer knows who she is?
On a day when it seems everyone is taking her for granted, and as the ghost of a past betrayal rises, it becomes clear that even this good mother and model wife can be pushed too far
MY THOUGHTS: The Model Wife is a multi-generational family drama about struggling relationships, betrayal and the stress caused by not only the expectations people place on others, but also the expectations we place on ourselves.
The title of this book is taken from a book passed down from generation to generation of the women in this family. It's full of advice for women in the early eighteen hundreds, and the chapter headings are things like The Husband is Master and Family Before all Else. Natalie has somewhat of a love/hate relationship with the book. Although she outwardly acknowledges that it has little relevance to modern life, she can't bring herself to toss it out and sees herself as a failure when she measures herself against the advice in the book.
Feeling overwhelmed by her demanding family, a health scare, and a betrayal from the past that seems to be creeping into her current life, she decides to take some time out and sets off to Brisbane to visit her best friend Brenda and hopefully get a better perspective on her life.
I loved the characters in this book, well all except Connie. Every family unfortunately has to have a Connie. I think most women will be able to relate to Natalie, working outside the home, trying to do everything around the home, support her husband and daughters, care for her mother-in-law, and deal with all the paperwork associated with a business.
Her daughters are all very different women. Kate, the eldest is married to Sean, childless, and runs the office of her
husband's family transport business. They live some distance from Natalie and Milt. Bree, the middle daughter, loves the outdoors, and works on the property with Milt, not always amiably. Laura, the youngest, is a hairdresser and the creative daughter. She seems to always be upsetting her father with her hair, her makeup, her friends.
The situations and emotions that Tricia Stringer depicts are all very real, and that is probably the thing I love most about this author's writing. She's also able to portray the setting and community with great skill.
Although this book is almost 500 pages, it kept my interest t and I was sad to come to the end. There are little nuggets of wisdom scattered throughout. I got a bit emotional in places.
A fulfilling read.
'Holidays are good but you still have to go home.'
'It's a mother's lot to worry about (her) kids, feel we should have been there more, done things differently....we can't go back. We just have to learn to carry the guilt as best we can.'
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#TheModelWife
I: : @triciastringerauthor @hqstories
T: @tricia_stringer @HQstories
#australianfiction #contemporaryfiction #familydrama #sliceoflife #womensfiction
THE AUTHOR: Tricia lives in the beautiful Copper Coast region of South Australia, often exploring Australia's diverse communities and landscapes, and shares this passion for the country and its people through her authentic stories and their vivid characters.
DISCLOSURE: I borrowed a copy of The Model Wife by Tricia Stringer published by HQ Fiction from the Waitomo District Library. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
September 23, 2019
The Model Wife is the first Tricia Stringer book that I have read and it most certainly won't be my last. What a wonderful, heart warming and realistic story. I love a good Australian story and this one hit home on a number of occasions. The story of a family, their relationships, their ups and downs and their lives in general.
Natalie is a part time teacher, a mother of 3 adult daughters and the wife of a farmer. From the outside she has it all, and is breezing through life. But a health scare and a ghost from her past start her thinking about her life and wondering if she is truly happy? She is constantly on the go, caring for her family, working and helping on the farm. She has always done what is expected of her and now she wonders if it was all worth it. Has her life been the one that she always wanted. Is she being taken for granted? a family heirloom book from her mother in law called The Model wife resurfaces, full of outdated advice and Natalie wonders if somehow she has followed it without realising it.
This is a long book at 483 pages but there is always something going on. Like mots families the King family always have one drama or another. Life on a farm has its adventures. What I loved about this book was it was real. The emotions that Natalie was feeling were ones that I sure most mothers and wives feel at some point in their lives. Life is not always perfect, and that is OK. Relationships can be hard and not always rosy. You can't always please everybody 100% of the time. Are mothers allowed some me time? This book explores all of this as well as mental health.
It is an emotional story, you will laugh, you will cry and it will make you think. It is very Australian and I mean that in a good way.
Thank you to Harlequin Books Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
Natalie is a part time teacher, a mother of 3 adult daughters and the wife of a farmer. From the outside she has it all, and is breezing through life. But a health scare and a ghost from her past start her thinking about her life and wondering if she is truly happy? She is constantly on the go, caring for her family, working and helping on the farm. She has always done what is expected of her and now she wonders if it was all worth it. Has her life been the one that she always wanted. Is she being taken for granted? a family heirloom book from her mother in law called The Model wife resurfaces, full of outdated advice and Natalie wonders if somehow she has followed it without realising it.
This is a long book at 483 pages but there is always something going on. Like mots families the King family always have one drama or another. Life on a farm has its adventures. What I loved about this book was it was real. The emotions that Natalie was feeling were ones that I sure most mothers and wives feel at some point in their lives. Life is not always perfect, and that is OK. Relationships can be hard and not always rosy. You can't always please everybody 100% of the time. Are mothers allowed some me time? This book explores all of this as well as mental health.
It is an emotional story, you will laugh, you will cry and it will make you think. It is very Australian and I mean that in a good way.
Thank you to Harlequin Books Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
September 21, 2019
Natalie King received the phone call that changed everything at the end of a school day. Her thoughts immediately scrambled; all she knew was she and Milt – her husband – would need to head to Adelaide the following day. Natalie was a busy fifty something year old woman. The running of their farm, her three daughters, Kate, Bree and Laura who still needed her although two of them had left home; her mother in law was quite demanding, and her teaching position at the local school kept her busy as well. She had always known this was her lot in life – but with the phone call, and what happened later, Natalie’s confusion about who she really was, hit her. But what could she do about it?
When Natalie unexpectedly unearthed the small but outdated book that her mother in law had given her many years prior, called The Model Wife, she read short passages. It brought different events of her married life back to her. But it also increased her uncertainty. Everyone relied on her – but wasn’t there more to life? Natalie wanted to talk to her good friend; the heart to heart would surely help…
The Model Wife by Aussie author Tricia Stringer was an enjoyable story of family; being taken for granted; love in its many forms and second chances. A long book at almost 500 pages, they flew by as events and discussions took place, dramas occurred both on the farm and elsewhere, and the sisters matured, were nurtured and gained the confidence they were lacking. Another well written novel by this author, The Model Wife is one I recommend highly.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
When Natalie unexpectedly unearthed the small but outdated book that her mother in law had given her many years prior, called The Model Wife, she read short passages. It brought different events of her married life back to her. But it also increased her uncertainty. Everyone relied on her – but wasn’t there more to life? Natalie wanted to talk to her good friend; the heart to heart would surely help…
The Model Wife by Aussie author Tricia Stringer was an enjoyable story of family; being taken for granted; love in its many forms and second chances. A long book at almost 500 pages, they flew by as events and discussions took place, dramas occurred both on the farm and elsewhere, and the sisters matured, were nurtured and gained the confidence they were lacking. Another well written novel by this author, The Model Wife is one I recommend highly.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
June 3, 2022
Natalie King has three grown up daughters Kate, Bree and Laura and she and her husband Milt run the family farm. Like all families they have had their ups and downs but a past mistake made by Milt has been kept a secret from his daughters. Nat has a health scare, this makes her look back at the past, her relationship with her husband and her life in general.
Natalie King's life is busy; she’s a wife, mother, a teacher, she does the farms book work and calls in to see her mother-in-law Olive on the way home from work. She’s juggling so many things, from the outside she seems cool, calm, collected and has everything under control. Milt is like most Aussie blokes, he’s wrapped up in his farm and it’s never entered his thick head that his wife might want to go on a holiday or have a conversation that doesn’t involve what needs to be done around the farm and she's sick of it.
The Kings family has a book called The Model Wife and it’s been passed down to all new brides in the family for generations, when Natalie received it from Olive, it made her feel inadequate and thirty five years later she still feels the same.
Natalie is fed up, she asked her boss Paul for some time off, catches a plane to Broome and her family has no idea why she’s left? While Nat is enjoying the sun, Milt and the girls start to reflect on how they have treated her, the family discovers they have all been rather selfish and is it too late for them to make it up to Natalie?
I loved The Model Wife, it’s a perfect book to read if you live in Australia or have an interest in what's it's like to live in rural Australia and especially in Adelaide! Many of the topics and situations included in the story made me laugh out loud and it’s very relevant to me! I received a copy of this book from Harlequin Australia and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and four stars from me.
Natalie King's life is busy; she’s a wife, mother, a teacher, she does the farms book work and calls in to see her mother-in-law Olive on the way home from work. She’s juggling so many things, from the outside she seems cool, calm, collected and has everything under control. Milt is like most Aussie blokes, he’s wrapped up in his farm and it’s never entered his thick head that his wife might want to go on a holiday or have a conversation that doesn’t involve what needs to be done around the farm and she's sick of it.
The Kings family has a book called The Model Wife and it’s been passed down to all new brides in the family for generations, when Natalie received it from Olive, it made her feel inadequate and thirty five years later she still feels the same.
Natalie is fed up, she asked her boss Paul for some time off, catches a plane to Broome and her family has no idea why she’s left? While Nat is enjoying the sun, Milt and the girls start to reflect on how they have treated her, the family discovers they have all been rather selfish and is it too late for them to make it up to Natalie?
I loved The Model Wife, it’s a perfect book to read if you live in Australia or have an interest in what's it's like to live in rural Australia and especially in Adelaide! Many of the topics and situations included in the story made me laugh out loud and it’s very relevant to me! I received a copy of this book from Harlequin Australia and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and four stars from me.
October 19, 2022
I have had this one sitting on my TBR pile for a while and I am very sorry I didn’t get to it sooner, it is a fabulous read, so well written with emotion and care, we get to know the King family and what life can throw at them on their busy sheep farm in country South Australia, I had a hard time putting this one down.
Natalie King is a farmer’s wife to Milt, a mother of three adult daughters, Kate, Bree and Laura, a primary school teacher and a daughter in law to Olive, she has always led a very busy life keeping the old farm house going cooking the meals helping on the farm, and teaching but when she gets a phone call one afternoon Natalie has a big re-think on her life, she re-discovers an old book that her mother in law Olive gave her when she married Milt, The Model Wife this books sets out what a wife should and shouldn’t do in her live, written in the 1930’s this brings back lots of memories good and bad and Natalie decides she needs to get away she needs a holiday and to think about her future.
Natalie finds herself in Broome Western Australia, her three girls are home and she is not, that is hard for her because she has always been there for them but her emotions are all over the place she knows she is a good wife and mother and that maybe they need her at home, but this is Natalie’s time, time to re-think and adjust her life. Will her holiday be what she needs? The rest and time out has her thinking about many things and when she talks about her life things fall into place and it might be time to go home.
Tricia Stringer brings a lot of heart and soul into her stories with fabulous characters who are real and honest, there are discussions about everyday life and how people cope in different circumstances and I though Natalie was so good, this is one that I would highly recommend, I loved it, the King family will stay with me for a long time to come.
My thanks to Netgalley for my copy to read and review.
Natalie King is a farmer’s wife to Milt, a mother of three adult daughters, Kate, Bree and Laura, a primary school teacher and a daughter in law to Olive, she has always led a very busy life keeping the old farm house going cooking the meals helping on the farm, and teaching but when she gets a phone call one afternoon Natalie has a big re-think on her life, she re-discovers an old book that her mother in law Olive gave her when she married Milt, The Model Wife this books sets out what a wife should and shouldn’t do in her live, written in the 1930’s this brings back lots of memories good and bad and Natalie decides she needs to get away she needs a holiday and to think about her future.
Natalie finds herself in Broome Western Australia, her three girls are home and she is not, that is hard for her because she has always been there for them but her emotions are all over the place she knows she is a good wife and mother and that maybe they need her at home, but this is Natalie’s time, time to re-think and adjust her life. Will her holiday be what she needs? The rest and time out has her thinking about many things and when she talks about her life things fall into place and it might be time to go home.
Tricia Stringer brings a lot of heart and soul into her stories with fabulous characters who are real and honest, there are discussions about everyday life and how people cope in different circumstances and I though Natalie was so good, this is one that I would highly recommend, I loved it, the King family will stay with me for a long time to come.
My thanks to Netgalley for my copy to read and review.
February 22, 2020
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**4.5 stars**
The Model Wife by Tricia Stringer. (2019).
Natalie's life is full, some might say too full. She teaches, runs a farm, has 3 grown daughters who haven't quite got a handle on things, has a reserved husband and a demanding mother-in-law. She is the person everyone depends on. But when an odd gift from her mother-in-law (an old outdated book detailing how to be the model wife) surfaces again, it brings memories Natalie thought she had buried deep and makes her consider that in trying to be the perfect wife and mother she may have lost herself...
I really really enjoyed this one. It felt so easy to relate to Natalie! I'm sure anyone who has a long term partner and/or kids can relate to the stresses of trying to be the perfect spouse/parent. I liked that the story included the point of views of the three daughters as well as Natalie, so the reader could get the full effect of what was happening to the family as well as each person's respective personal issues. The excerpts of the "how to be a model wife" book were hilarious and slightly concerning that there are genuine books like that in existence from the past (I've seen them!!). I think the book also demonstrated really well the difficulty of having a farming property to run. I highly recommend this story that not only highlights various struggles that we can all relate to, but also makes the reader appreciate their loved ones just that bit more.
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
**4.5 stars**
The Model Wife by Tricia Stringer. (2019).
Natalie's life is full, some might say too full. She teaches, runs a farm, has 3 grown daughters who haven't quite got a handle on things, has a reserved husband and a demanding mother-in-law. She is the person everyone depends on. But when an odd gift from her mother-in-law (an old outdated book detailing how to be the model wife) surfaces again, it brings memories Natalie thought she had buried deep and makes her consider that in trying to be the perfect wife and mother she may have lost herself...
I really really enjoyed this one. It felt so easy to relate to Natalie! I'm sure anyone who has a long term partner and/or kids can relate to the stresses of trying to be the perfect spouse/parent. I liked that the story included the point of views of the three daughters as well as Natalie, so the reader could get the full effect of what was happening to the family as well as each person's respective personal issues. The excerpts of the "how to be a model wife" book were hilarious and slightly concerning that there are genuine books like that in existence from the past (I've seen them!!). I think the book also demonstrated really well the difficulty of having a farming property to run. I highly recommend this story that not only highlights various struggles that we can all relate to, but also makes the reader appreciate their loved ones just that bit more.
February 4, 2020
Stayed up all night to read this book and it was good but I have to go to work in two hours. Aaagh
This wasn't really a romance more like Old chick lit and maybe because the heroine was my age, it really clicked with me. I had some of the same experiences she did and I have let them fester inside. She ran away and while I didn't like that, I understood it. Her three daughters came home, she had a breast cancer scare and when she went to tell her husband he was hugging the woman he had an affair with 27 years before plus that woman had a son that was born nine months after she caught then together at a hotel, and he was hanging out with the boy and she thought he was her husband's son.lots of stuff going on in the book but I loved it.
Spoilers below:
He wasn't his son because the husband did not have sex with the OW. They were drunk, kissed, touched each other I guess and realized they couldn't do it. Of course it helped his wife showed up and broke it up too. Hated that part. He still cheated but at least he didn't do the act!
This wasn't really a romance more like Old chick lit and maybe because the heroine was my age, it really clicked with me. I had some of the same experiences she did and I have let them fester inside. She ran away and while I didn't like that, I understood it. Her three daughters came home, she had a breast cancer scare and when she went to tell her husband he was hugging the woman he had an affair with 27 years before plus that woman had a son that was born nine months after she caught then together at a hotel, and he was hanging out with the boy and she thought he was her husband's son.lots of stuff going on in the book but I loved it.
Spoilers below:
He wasn't his son because the husband did not have sex with the OW. They were drunk, kissed, touched each other I guess and realized they couldn't do it. Of course it helped his wife showed up and broke it up too. Hated that part. He still cheated but at least he didn't do the act!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2021
This is yet another wonderful story by Tricia Stringer and I am keen to read more.
The story encompasses three generations of a family who live on a large farm in rural South Australia. Natalie is the wife of Milt the current owner of the farm he inherited from his father Clem. His mother Olive lives in a unit in town and Natalie has a weekly chore in between helping on the farm and teaching part-time of shopping and cleaning for her widowed mother-in-law. Natalie's three adult daughters all appear to be converging for a weekend.
Bree still lives on the farm but is constantly going head to head with her father about the running of the farm. Kate is married and she and her husband Sean are unable to have children and she is content with that. Laura is considered the black sheep, having moved to Adelaide where she works as a hairdresser and tends to shock her family with her outrageous hair colours.
Natalie hits a pivotal point in her life that makes her question her life and on a whim she flees interstate leaving everyone in her wake stunned. It is only then they realise how much Natalie does for all of them.
Great characters and a story that is contemporary and very thought provoking. Happy to recommend any books by this fabulous author.
The story encompasses three generations of a family who live on a large farm in rural South Australia. Natalie is the wife of Milt the current owner of the farm he inherited from his father Clem. His mother Olive lives in a unit in town and Natalie has a weekly chore in between helping on the farm and teaching part-time of shopping and cleaning for her widowed mother-in-law. Natalie's three adult daughters all appear to be converging for a weekend.
Bree still lives on the farm but is constantly going head to head with her father about the running of the farm. Kate is married and she and her husband Sean are unable to have children and she is content with that. Laura is considered the black sheep, having moved to Adelaide where she works as a hairdresser and tends to shock her family with her outrageous hair colours.
Natalie hits a pivotal point in her life that makes her question her life and on a whim she flees interstate leaving everyone in her wake stunned. It is only then they realise how much Natalie does for all of them.
Great characters and a story that is contemporary and very thought provoking. Happy to recommend any books by this fabulous author.
January 12, 2022
This won't be much of a review because I am out of steam, y'all. This is definitely women's lit rather than romance, so factor that in if you are considering adding this title to your TBR. There's not a lot of smexy action here at all.
I seem to be drawn to Australian books and I loved this one! I was afraid the h was going to be a doormat throughout the whole story, but then she legged it, and left her family with the need to cope without her. Of course, nobody in her damn family had any idea exactly how much she did for everyone to keep the ship afloat (except maybe horrible MIL, who damn well knew exactly how much work she did), but they sure did get a better idea of it after she left. Much of the story is about her family having to take on the many responsibilities that h left behind on her impromptu solo holiday/exodus. There's quite a bit of family drama, so if that's your jam, then this is your story.
There are some themes of infidelity woven throughout the story, but a lot of that relates to a communication deficit between the h and H. It does cast a pall, though, and is a major motivator for much of the h's behavior in the book.
I seem to be drawn to Australian books and I loved this one! I was afraid the h was going to be a doormat throughout the whole story, but then she legged it, and left her family with the need to cope without her. Of course, nobody in her damn family had any idea exactly how much she did for everyone to keep the ship afloat (except maybe horrible MIL, who damn well knew exactly how much work she did), but they sure did get a better idea of it after she left. Much of the story is about her family having to take on the many responsibilities that h left behind on her impromptu solo holiday/exodus. There's quite a bit of family drama, so if that's your jam, then this is your story.
There are some themes of infidelity woven throughout the story, but a lot of that relates to a communication deficit between the h and H. It does cast a pall, though, and is a major motivator for much of the h's behavior in the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2019
The Model Wife is a lovely and enjoyable read, it’s heart-warming and realistic.
Natalie King is a wife and mother of three adult daughters, she lives on the family farming property and works as a school teacher. Natalie stumbles across an old forgotten about book in the back of the kitchen drawer. The book was a gift to her a long time ago from her mother in law Olive and titled The Model Wife, it was full of outdated advice for young wives.
This book and a health scare causes Natalie to reflect on her purpose in life and digs up reminders of past issues in her marriage she can’t move forward from. She feels the need to find herself and has what you could call a midlife crisis.
The family setting is a farm is South Australia which is demanding work and there are intense family dramas throughout the plot. The story is very engaging and relatable to everyday issues and problems that many people have gone through. The characters in the book were very likeable.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC
Natalie King is a wife and mother of three adult daughters, she lives on the family farming property and works as a school teacher. Natalie stumbles across an old forgotten about book in the back of the kitchen drawer. The book was a gift to her a long time ago from her mother in law Olive and titled The Model Wife, it was full of outdated advice for young wives.
This book and a health scare causes Natalie to reflect on her purpose in life and digs up reminders of past issues in her marriage she can’t move forward from. She feels the need to find herself and has what you could call a midlife crisis.
The family setting is a farm is South Australia which is demanding work and there are intense family dramas throughout the plot. The story is very engaging and relatable to everyday issues and problems that many people have gone through. The characters in the book were very likeable.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC
October 27, 2019
The Model Wife is the second contemporary novel from one of Australia’s favourite authors, Tricia Stringer. Told in the third person, it is the story of Natalie King, a mother and wife, who lives in rural South Australia. Natalie’s three girls, Kate, Bree and Laura have flown the nest and it is now just her and her husband, Milt. Growing up, the girls were three very different individuals who had a strong connection with each other. Despite their close relationship, they are keeping secrets from each other and their parents. When all three sisters return home for their own reasons, nothing can be kept hidden any longer. Natalie is keeping her own secrets after having a routine breast check that comes back with an anomaly, shaking Natalie’s world to the core. Reading The Model Wife, with its outdated advice for wives, has Natalie questioning her relationship with Milt. All this plus a long ago discretion is brought to the forefront, forcing Natalie to make some difficult decisions that will change her the family dynamics. Will it be for better or worse?
With themes of love, family and marriage, Natalie is every woman as she strives to have it all.
Thanks to Beauty and Lace for the opportunity to review this book.
With themes of love, family and marriage, Natalie is every woman as she strives to have it all.
Thanks to Beauty and Lace for the opportunity to review this book.
June 20, 2019
Another wonderful book from Tricia Stringer about family, love and finding yourself.
I absolutely loved it. @harlequinaus
I absolutely loved it. @harlequinaus
September 25, 2019
The Model Wife is a wise, warm, and wonderful story of a woman in search of herself from Australian author, Tricia Stringer.
“The model wife spends her time taking care of her family and putting them before her own needs.” - The Model Wife by Mrs Gladys Norman, London, 1928
When Natalie King is confronted with a potentially life threatening health crisis, the busy 58 year old wife, mother and teacher, is left reeling. Reflecting on her past, and contemplating the direction of her future, she finds she desperately needs a break and, ignoring the century old wisdom of ‘The Model Wife’, flees north to Broome, leaving her family to fend for themselves.
“Everyone had a piece of Natalie and somehow she’d lost herself in the process. She’d never done anything outside anyone else’s expectations of her.”
Stringer’s portrayal of Natalie’s ‘paradigm shift’ is thoughtful and realistic, and likely one every wife and mother can relate to. After years of tirelessly working to ensure the needs of her family and community are met, Natalie realises that she has largely ignored her own. Away from the constant demands on her time and energy she has the space to consider what she wants moving forward.
“Don’t let anyone should you.”
Natalie’s timing couldn’t be worse though, it’s tailing season on the farm keeping her husband, Milt and middle daughter, Bree, busy; both her youngest and eldest daughter’s, Laura and Kate who seem to have something on their mind, are visiting; and her sister-in-law is demanding an increased share of the farm’s income. Stringer thoughtfully explores the individual issues at hand, as well as the change Natalie’s absence makes to the family dynamics. I appreciated the authenticity with which the author both portrayed and developed the multi-generational characters. I also liked the way in which issues specific to a farming lifestyle, like property succession, are explored.
“Natalie had simply had to lose herself to find her way home.”
A well written, engaging story of the everyday challenges of life and love, I enjoyed A Model Wife, and am happy to recommend it.
“The model wife spends her time taking care of her family and putting them before her own needs.” - The Model Wife by Mrs Gladys Norman, London, 1928
When Natalie King is confronted with a potentially life threatening health crisis, the busy 58 year old wife, mother and teacher, is left reeling. Reflecting on her past, and contemplating the direction of her future, she finds she desperately needs a break and, ignoring the century old wisdom of ‘The Model Wife’, flees north to Broome, leaving her family to fend for themselves.
“Everyone had a piece of Natalie and somehow she’d lost herself in the process. She’d never done anything outside anyone else’s expectations of her.”
Stringer’s portrayal of Natalie’s ‘paradigm shift’ is thoughtful and realistic, and likely one every wife and mother can relate to. After years of tirelessly working to ensure the needs of her family and community are met, Natalie realises that she has largely ignored her own. Away from the constant demands on her time and energy she has the space to consider what she wants moving forward.
“Don’t let anyone should you.”
Natalie’s timing couldn’t be worse though, it’s tailing season on the farm keeping her husband, Milt and middle daughter, Bree, busy; both her youngest and eldest daughter’s, Laura and Kate who seem to have something on their mind, are visiting; and her sister-in-law is demanding an increased share of the farm’s income. Stringer thoughtfully explores the individual issues at hand, as well as the change Natalie’s absence makes to the family dynamics. I appreciated the authenticity with which the author both portrayed and developed the multi-generational characters. I also liked the way in which issues specific to a farming lifestyle, like property succession, are explored.
“Natalie had simply had to lose herself to find her way home.”
A well written, engaging story of the everyday challenges of life and love, I enjoyed A Model Wife, and am happy to recommend it.
September 22, 2019
‘The model wife loves her husband truly and does not highlight his faults.’
Natalie King leads a very busy life. In addition to helping her husband Milt on the family farm, she teaches, meets the demands of her mother-in-law Olive, and looks out for her three adult daughters: Kate, Bree and Laura. Her husband Milt is always going to get around to fixing things in the farmhouse (like the missing stopper on the door, the window runners in the bedroom and the warped kitchen door) one day. Everyone, it seems, relies on Natalie.
But one day, when she’s searching through a kitchen drawer, she finds an old book which was gifted to her by her mother-in-law. The book, published in 1928, is called ‘The Model Wife’ and is full of advice as to how a woman should run a home and keep her husband happy. The book has been gifted through a few generations of King women. When they were first married, Natalie and Milt had a few laughs about the contents of the book but somehow it seems to have become a blueprint for Natalie’s life.
‘And there it was again, The Model Wife, controlling her. She couldn’t do anything unless the house was clean. Or could she?’
A medical event and an issue from the past cause Natalie to take stock of her life, and she decides to take some time out to work out just who she is and what she wants. And while Natalie is exploring possibilities, her family come to realise just how much they have taken her for granted.
‘Don’t let anyone should you.’
I enjoyed this novel. The characters and their various family dramas felt real to me, and I kept wondering what choices different individuals would make and how the family would adapt. While Natalie is the central character in this novel, she is not the only character being challenged by life and circumstance.
‘Sometimes you have to lose yourself to find yourself.’
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Natalie King leads a very busy life. In addition to helping her husband Milt on the family farm, she teaches, meets the demands of her mother-in-law Olive, and looks out for her three adult daughters: Kate, Bree and Laura. Her husband Milt is always going to get around to fixing things in the farmhouse (like the missing stopper on the door, the window runners in the bedroom and the warped kitchen door) one day. Everyone, it seems, relies on Natalie.
But one day, when she’s searching through a kitchen drawer, she finds an old book which was gifted to her by her mother-in-law. The book, published in 1928, is called ‘The Model Wife’ and is full of advice as to how a woman should run a home and keep her husband happy. The book has been gifted through a few generations of King women. When they were first married, Natalie and Milt had a few laughs about the contents of the book but somehow it seems to have become a blueprint for Natalie’s life.
‘And there it was again, The Model Wife, controlling her. She couldn’t do anything unless the house was clean. Or could she?’
A medical event and an issue from the past cause Natalie to take stock of her life, and she decides to take some time out to work out just who she is and what she wants. And while Natalie is exploring possibilities, her family come to realise just how much they have taken her for granted.
‘Don’t let anyone should you.’
I enjoyed this novel. The characters and their various family dramas felt real to me, and I kept wondering what choices different individuals would make and how the family would adapt. While Natalie is the central character in this novel, she is not the only character being challenged by life and circumstance.
‘Sometimes you have to lose yourself to find yourself.’
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
December 26, 2019
I was surprised at how much I ended up enjoying this book, there were times when I waited on edge sure everything was going to implode, nothing turned out the way I was expecting which is great. It was an interesting premise, partially basing your life around a book written in another time, so much of the advice was laughable to me and I am glad we don't live by the rules of this book these days, I know I would be well and truly divorced within the first month I imagine. A really enjoyable read/listen.
December 19, 2019
Hell’s teeth! If you read The Model Wife by Tricia Stringer you will quickly get used to this utterance.
This is a story about three generations of one family from rural South Australia. Natalie and Milt have three daughters:- Kate, Bree and Laura. Kate and her husband have decided they are not the parenting type. They live a few hours away from the family farm. Bree works the farm with Milt, and no one has really asked if she wants to do anything else so it surprises everyone that she is thinking of moving to Marla with her boyfriend Owen, some 9 hours away. Laura (unbeknownst to anyone) is moving back home. Things aren’t working out for her in the big smoke and she is looking to reset at home.
Natalie has always done exactly what has been expected of her as a mother, daughter-in-law and wife. She has the family heirloom given to her by her mother-in-law Olive as a reference! The Model Wife - outdated perhaps, but it gives Natalie pause at this stage of her life.
When Natalie receives some news in relation to a breast cancer diagnosis she gives herself permission to stop and take stock of her life. She questions whether she’s an active participant in her life or merely an observer. She takes a trip on her own to find some solace and thinks about what she wants and what she needs in order for her to be happy. She decides there is more to life than existing for others and fulfilling their needs and living up to their expectations. Natalie begins to claim a little of herself back and so begins a journey of self discovery..
The Model Wife is a charming story. The ups and downs of family life, relationships, daily struggles and victories, love and loss. It’s a reasonably long read of over 500 pages. It’s a story with a relaxed pace that is reflective of the Natalie's soul searching and the evolution of her character in this transitional phase..
Thank you to Tricia Stringer, Harlequin Australia and Netgalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Lovers of contemporary Australian romance are sure to love this book.
This book is for publication on 23 September 2019.
This review will also be posted to my instagram page @aplace_inthesun.
This is a story about three generations of one family from rural South Australia. Natalie and Milt have three daughters:- Kate, Bree and Laura. Kate and her husband have decided they are not the parenting type. They live a few hours away from the family farm. Bree works the farm with Milt, and no one has really asked if she wants to do anything else so it surprises everyone that she is thinking of moving to Marla with her boyfriend Owen, some 9 hours away. Laura (unbeknownst to anyone) is moving back home. Things aren’t working out for her in the big smoke and she is looking to reset at home.
Natalie has always done exactly what has been expected of her as a mother, daughter-in-law and wife. She has the family heirloom given to her by her mother-in-law Olive as a reference! The Model Wife - outdated perhaps, but it gives Natalie pause at this stage of her life.
When Natalie receives some news in relation to a breast cancer diagnosis she gives herself permission to stop and take stock of her life. She questions whether she’s an active participant in her life or merely an observer. She takes a trip on her own to find some solace and thinks about what she wants and what she needs in order for her to be happy. She decides there is more to life than existing for others and fulfilling their needs and living up to their expectations. Natalie begins to claim a little of herself back and so begins a journey of self discovery..
The Model Wife is a charming story. The ups and downs of family life, relationships, daily struggles and victories, love and loss. It’s a reasonably long read of over 500 pages. It’s a story with a relaxed pace that is reflective of the Natalie's soul searching and the evolution of her character in this transitional phase..
Thank you to Tricia Stringer, Harlequin Australia and Netgalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Lovers of contemporary Australian romance are sure to love this book.
This book is for publication on 23 September 2019.
This review will also be posted to my instagram page @aplace_inthesun.
July 23, 2020
Thank to NetGalley, Harlequin Australia and Tricia Stringer for my copy of The Model Wife.
Natalie King has three grown up daughters Kate, Bree and Laura and she and her husband Milt run the family farm. Like all families they have had their ups and downs but a past mistake made by Milt has been kept a secret from his daughters. Nat has a health scare; this makes her look back at the past, her relationship with her husband and her life in general.
Natalie King's life is busy; she’s a wife, mother, a teacher, she does the farms book work and calls in to see her mother in law Olive on the way home from work. She’s juggling so many things, from the outside she seems cool, calm, collected and has everything under control. But the one mistake she’s made is like many women she’s never put her first, she’s never gone on a holiday, planted the house garden she has planned for years or demanded the new kitchen she desperately needs. Milt is like most Aussie blokes, he’s wrapped up in his farm and it’s never entered his thick head that his wife might want to go on a holiday or have a conversation that doesn’t involve what needs to be done around the farm and she's sick of it.
The Kings family has an old fashioned book called The Model Wife it’s been passed down to all new brides in the family for generations; when Natalie received it from Olive, it made her feel inadequate and thirty five years later it still makes her feel the same.
Natalie is fed up, she asked her boss Paul for some time off, catches a plane to Broome and her family has no idea why she’s left? During her time away, Natalie rediscovers herself, she has time to read a book, go shopping, go swimming, drink a few cocktails by the pool and relax. While Nat is enjoying the sun, Milt and the girls start to reflect on how they have treated her, the family discovers they have all been rather selfish and is it too late for them to make it up to Natalie?
I loved The Model Wife, it’s a perfect book to read if you live in Australia, especially in Adelaide and many of the topics and situations included in the story made me laugh out loud, it’s very relevant to me and I live in a small country town. Enough said lol and four stars from me.
Natalie King has three grown up daughters Kate, Bree and Laura and she and her husband Milt run the family farm. Like all families they have had their ups and downs but a past mistake made by Milt has been kept a secret from his daughters. Nat has a health scare; this makes her look back at the past, her relationship with her husband and her life in general.
Natalie King's life is busy; she’s a wife, mother, a teacher, she does the farms book work and calls in to see her mother in law Olive on the way home from work. She’s juggling so many things, from the outside she seems cool, calm, collected and has everything under control. But the one mistake she’s made is like many women she’s never put her first, she’s never gone on a holiday, planted the house garden she has planned for years or demanded the new kitchen she desperately needs. Milt is like most Aussie blokes, he’s wrapped up in his farm and it’s never entered his thick head that his wife might want to go on a holiday or have a conversation that doesn’t involve what needs to be done around the farm and she's sick of it.
The Kings family has an old fashioned book called The Model Wife it’s been passed down to all new brides in the family for generations; when Natalie received it from Olive, it made her feel inadequate and thirty five years later it still makes her feel the same.
Natalie is fed up, she asked her boss Paul for some time off, catches a plane to Broome and her family has no idea why she’s left? During her time away, Natalie rediscovers herself, she has time to read a book, go shopping, go swimming, drink a few cocktails by the pool and relax. While Nat is enjoying the sun, Milt and the girls start to reflect on how they have treated her, the family discovers they have all been rather selfish and is it too late for them to make it up to Natalie?
I loved The Model Wife, it’s a perfect book to read if you live in Australia, especially in Adelaide and many of the topics and situations included in the story made me laugh out loud, it’s very relevant to me and I live in a small country town. Enough said lol and four stars from me.
June 28, 2019
Tricia Stringer excels at two things: strong, empathetic characters; and finding an experience or emotion shared by many, then spinning that small kernel of commonality into an engaging novel. “The Model Wife” is no exception. It’s populated by realistic and recognisable characters, and the plot turns around a feeling many older women have had.
Natalie King has a busy life with the sorts of demands that many women will recognise: her teaching job, mentoring new teachers, keeping her household running, being a supportive wife, helping her elderly mother in law, volunteering in her community, and contributing endless support and sympathy to her three grown daughters. She’s good at it, and people take for granted that they can rely on her.
She’s so busy with all the things people assume she’ll do, that she doesn’t really have time to think about whether this is what she wants to be doing, whether she’s happy, whether she is where she wants to be at this point in her life. Then one day she reaches a tipping point; too many people are assuming she’ll just do what they want her to do regardless of her feelings, and she is simultaneously sharply reminded of a problem from the past that could have changed her life.
And Natalie does what many women before her have wished they could do.
I really enjoy Stringer’s novels. The plots don’t usually come with big twists, and they’re not especially original either. However, the characters and their problems are realistic and grounded, and it feels as though you’re reading about familiar feelings and issues. Most readers will either feel they’ve dealt with at least some of these problems, or talked them through with friends who are dealing with them. Natalie feels like the kind of friend you’d sit down with for a glass of wine and a mutual bewailing of these demands.
Stringer’s prose is warm and friendly. She pulls you in with an easy and flowing writing style that quickly has you absorbed by the action. It’s easy to read, but that doesn’t mean it’s shallow. Some of the things Natalie is dealing with are thought provoking, as are the ways she approaches them.
“The Model Wife” should be widely enjoyed. It has a strong sense of place, well grounded in the demands of running a farm in Australia; the day to day details are engrained in the story in a very matter of fact way. With a wide cast of pleasant characters there will be someone for most readers to identify with. The plot will certainly strike a chord with the majority of female readers.
This is a warm and engaging novel that doesn’t demand too much, necessarily, but has depth for readers who want to engage their brains. It’s fun to read, but canvasses some very genuine and important issues. Both fans of Stringer’s work and new readers will enjoy this.
Natalie King has a busy life with the sorts of demands that many women will recognise: her teaching job, mentoring new teachers, keeping her household running, being a supportive wife, helping her elderly mother in law, volunteering in her community, and contributing endless support and sympathy to her three grown daughters. She’s good at it, and people take for granted that they can rely on her.
She’s so busy with all the things people assume she’ll do, that she doesn’t really have time to think about whether this is what she wants to be doing, whether she’s happy, whether she is where she wants to be at this point in her life. Then one day she reaches a tipping point; too many people are assuming she’ll just do what they want her to do regardless of her feelings, and she is simultaneously sharply reminded of a problem from the past that could have changed her life.
And Natalie does what many women before her have wished they could do.
I really enjoy Stringer’s novels. The plots don’t usually come with big twists, and they’re not especially original either. However, the characters and their problems are realistic and grounded, and it feels as though you’re reading about familiar feelings and issues. Most readers will either feel they’ve dealt with at least some of these problems, or talked them through with friends who are dealing with them. Natalie feels like the kind of friend you’d sit down with for a glass of wine and a mutual bewailing of these demands.
Stringer’s prose is warm and friendly. She pulls you in with an easy and flowing writing style that quickly has you absorbed by the action. It’s easy to read, but that doesn’t mean it’s shallow. Some of the things Natalie is dealing with are thought provoking, as are the ways she approaches them.
“The Model Wife” should be widely enjoyed. It has a strong sense of place, well grounded in the demands of running a farm in Australia; the day to day details are engrained in the story in a very matter of fact way. With a wide cast of pleasant characters there will be someone for most readers to identify with. The plot will certainly strike a chord with the majority of female readers.
This is a warm and engaging novel that doesn’t demand too much, necessarily, but has depth for readers who want to engage their brains. It’s fun to read, but canvasses some very genuine and important issues. Both fans of Stringer’s work and new readers will enjoy this.
October 13, 2019
The Model Wife is my first Tricia Stringer book and if her others are as good as this one then it definitely won’t be my last. This story centres around Natalie, a teacher, farmer’s wife and mother of three adult daughters. I identified with Natalie right away. She has always done everything for everybody else and as the story opens her personal world is starting to shatter. Natalie’s daughters Kate, Bree and Laura also have issues they need to address.
At the centre of this story is a nineteenth century book, The Model Wife, which offers tips on how a wife should behave in order to have a happy and productive home, a retreat for her husband and a haven for her children. I loved Natalie’s love hate relationship with the book. It provided lots of interest throughout this story, which is ultimately about learning to trust, support and communicate with those you love.
At the centre of this story is a nineteenth century book, The Model Wife, which offers tips on how a wife should behave in order to have a happy and productive home, a retreat for her husband and a haven for her children. I loved Natalie’s love hate relationship with the book. It provided lots of interest throughout this story, which is ultimately about learning to trust, support and communicate with those you love.
July 24, 2019
'Sometimes you have to lose yourself to find yourself.'
This quote is my favourite from The Model Wife and sums up the entire premise of the novel quite beautifully.
The Model Wife is the story of Natalie; a wife, teacher, mother and woman who always places her family first. Her health scare causes her to examine her life and explore what is truly important. Natalie is a character to love for her honesty, loyalty and integrity.
Throughout the novel I came to love this family and how true to life the events and characters could be. This is not a fairytale family. It is a loving family who stand by one another as they experience life together and apart. The novel explores a time when all three daughters return to the family home. The scenes at home remind me of the drama TV shows 'Brothers and sisters' and 'Heartland' in which families prioritise family life. I loved these shows for that reason, which is why I particularly enjoyed this novel.
The Model Wife explores family dynamics and I enjoyed reading about the relationship the sisters have. As an only child growing up, I particularly enjoyed reading of their bond and relationships with one another.
When Natalie finds an old book entitled 'The Model Wife,' given to her by her mother-in- law, she reads the arcaic ideas of who a woman should be. She starts to realise that she has been attempting to fill a traditional and expected role. The novel touches on feminism and the feelings of 'mum guilt'. As a mum I often feel guilty for not being able to be in two places at once and am continually finding a balance that works for me and my family. I hope that anyone reading this will also realise that we may all have moments in which we lose ourselves and that each learning curve is one step closer to finding our true selves.
I would highly recommend this novel and hope that readers will gain what I have from it. The Model Wife is a beautiful story with familiar challenges and a strength of a family who are connected via their life experiences together.
Thank you @harlequinaus and Harper Collins Publishers for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
This quote is my favourite from The Model Wife and sums up the entire premise of the novel quite beautifully.
The Model Wife is the story of Natalie; a wife, teacher, mother and woman who always places her family first. Her health scare causes her to examine her life and explore what is truly important. Natalie is a character to love for her honesty, loyalty and integrity.
Throughout the novel I came to love this family and how true to life the events and characters could be. This is not a fairytale family. It is a loving family who stand by one another as they experience life together and apart. The novel explores a time when all three daughters return to the family home. The scenes at home remind me of the drama TV shows 'Brothers and sisters' and 'Heartland' in which families prioritise family life. I loved these shows for that reason, which is why I particularly enjoyed this novel.
The Model Wife explores family dynamics and I enjoyed reading about the relationship the sisters have. As an only child growing up, I particularly enjoyed reading of their bond and relationships with one another.
When Natalie finds an old book entitled 'The Model Wife,' given to her by her mother-in- law, she reads the arcaic ideas of who a woman should be. She starts to realise that she has been attempting to fill a traditional and expected role. The novel touches on feminism and the feelings of 'mum guilt'. As a mum I often feel guilty for not being able to be in two places at once and am continually finding a balance that works for me and my family. I hope that anyone reading this will also realise that we may all have moments in which we lose ourselves and that each learning curve is one step closer to finding our true selves.
I would highly recommend this novel and hope that readers will gain what I have from it. The Model Wife is a beautiful story with familiar challenges and a strength of a family who are connected via their life experiences together.
Thank you @harlequinaus and Harper Collins Publishers for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
September 3, 2019
Wow-what a fantastic story this book was, it had me to the very end. This family will find a place in your heart and also make you think about your own life as you read their current journey of there life on the land. Three generations of woman all at very different stages in their lives tell their story as we explore the family dynamics of the Kings.
Natalie; a wife, teacher, mother and woman who always places her family first.
Milt: husband, father and a man of the land.
Olive; mother-in-law, grandmother and demanding matriarch of the family.
Kate; wife, daughter, sister, lives away from family and works with in-laws business.
Laura; daughter, sister, unemployed, unhappy, searching for more.
Bree; daughter, sister, girlfriend, slave labour to her father on the farm.
Natalie comes across an old book her mother-in-law gave her when she first married many years ago.
The Model Wife.
"A Husband is Master"
"A Model Wife Loves her Husband truly"
"Nothing destroys the happiness of married life more than a lazy, slovenly wife"
"It is the model wife's responsibility to provide her husband a happy home."
"The model wife respects and cares for her husband's parents and should put their needs before those of her own parents and herself."
"The model wife bears children and cares for them diligently."
"A frigid or indifferent wife could be supplanted by an ardent mistress."
The book brings back many memories from her life, at an age when we all take stock of the past and the future we travel along with Natalie on the road of finding herself again. She is not the only one in the family taking stock of their future and relationships, each member will have to find their place in this ever-changing world we live in.
This book is a wonderful portray of family and love. I would highly recommend this book as it is one of the best books I have read and enjoyed this year. I am around the some age has the main character and I felt her pain, guilt, dought, grief, commitment, responsibilities, sorrow, hope, fear, sadness, loss but most of all her love for her family and friends.
@harlequinaus
Natalie; a wife, teacher, mother and woman who always places her family first.
Milt: husband, father and a man of the land.
Olive; mother-in-law, grandmother and demanding matriarch of the family.
Kate; wife, daughter, sister, lives away from family and works with in-laws business.
Laura; daughter, sister, unemployed, unhappy, searching for more.
Bree; daughter, sister, girlfriend, slave labour to her father on the farm.
Natalie comes across an old book her mother-in-law gave her when she first married many years ago.
The Model Wife.
"A Husband is Master"
"A Model Wife Loves her Husband truly"
"Nothing destroys the happiness of married life more than a lazy, slovenly wife"
"It is the model wife's responsibility to provide her husband a happy home."
"The model wife respects and cares for her husband's parents and should put their needs before those of her own parents and herself."
"The model wife bears children and cares for them diligently."
"A frigid or indifferent wife could be supplanted by an ardent mistress."
The book brings back many memories from her life, at an age when we all take stock of the past and the future we travel along with Natalie on the road of finding herself again. She is not the only one in the family taking stock of their future and relationships, each member will have to find their place in this ever-changing world we live in.
This book is a wonderful portray of family and love. I would highly recommend this book as it is one of the best books I have read and enjoyed this year. I am around the some age has the main character and I felt her pain, guilt, dought, grief, commitment, responsibilities, sorrow, hope, fear, sadness, loss but most of all her love for her family and friends.
@harlequinaus
October 17, 2019
The Model Wife by Tricia Stringer is a fantastic example of a great Australian family saga which I am sure many readers will relate to.
Natalie and Milt have been married for many years and have three adult daughters. They live on a farm in country South Australia and ever since they have been married Natalie tends to everyone in the household as well as looking out for her mother in law Olive who lives in town nearby. She also teaches at the local primary school part time as well as helping the community in fund raising activities. Add to that she also does all the books for the property business. Just lately she is feeling that she has no time to herself and she is starting to run on empty.
Meanwhile Kate who is the eldest daughter comes home for a while as her husband Sean is a long-distance truck driver, she doesn’t feel well. Laura, the middle daughter has decided to quit her job as a hairdresser and move back home to sort herself out. Youngest daughter Bree helps her dad run the property and loves the country life but gets the impression that her dad will never trust her enough to take over in the future.
When a health issue arises for Natalie, it all becomes too much, and she decides she needs major time out from everyone. As she is packing to head off, she comes across a book that her mother in law gave her when she was first married. It was called The Model Wife and was a guide for new brides as to the correct way to behave when married. She had completely forgotten about this book and with her book in tow, she heads off for a journey of self-discovery, leaving everyone at home to figure things out!
This is a big book (almost 500 pages) but it honestly didn’t feel that big. The story was so engaging it kept me turning the pages, and you could imagine knowing someone like this family and the situations that cropped up. It’s my first by Tricia but won’t be my last as I loved her style of writing.
Thank you so much to #beautyandlacebooks and #harpercollinsaustralia and #harlequinaustralia for the complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for an honest opinion.
Natalie and Milt have been married for many years and have three adult daughters. They live on a farm in country South Australia and ever since they have been married Natalie tends to everyone in the household as well as looking out for her mother in law Olive who lives in town nearby. She also teaches at the local primary school part time as well as helping the community in fund raising activities. Add to that she also does all the books for the property business. Just lately she is feeling that she has no time to herself and she is starting to run on empty.
Meanwhile Kate who is the eldest daughter comes home for a while as her husband Sean is a long-distance truck driver, she doesn’t feel well. Laura, the middle daughter has decided to quit her job as a hairdresser and move back home to sort herself out. Youngest daughter Bree helps her dad run the property and loves the country life but gets the impression that her dad will never trust her enough to take over in the future.
When a health issue arises for Natalie, it all becomes too much, and she decides she needs major time out from everyone. As she is packing to head off, she comes across a book that her mother in law gave her when she was first married. It was called The Model Wife and was a guide for new brides as to the correct way to behave when married. She had completely forgotten about this book and with her book in tow, she heads off for a journey of self-discovery, leaving everyone at home to figure things out!
This is a big book (almost 500 pages) but it honestly didn’t feel that big. The story was so engaging it kept me turning the pages, and you could imagine knowing someone like this family and the situations that cropped up. It’s my first by Tricia but won’t be my last as I loved her style of writing.
Thank you so much to #beautyandlacebooks and #harpercollinsaustralia and #harlequinaustralia for the complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for an honest opinion.
January 19, 2020
I am surprised I finished this novel - I really wanted to know where it was going to go so I pushed on. Any novel where it takes this much effort for me is not rated any more than 2 stars. Very dragged out with not lots of depth in the storyline (which I thought it could use).
November 8, 2019
A light holiday read.
December 28, 2020
A quick holiday read but I just did not understand the protagonist’s obsession with a book written in a bygone era about how a wife should conduct herself.
September 24, 2019
An interesting look at life through the eyes of wife and mother juggling all the aspects of life. A story that I'm sure all wives and all mothers can relate to at some point.
Review posted at: https://miclovesbooks.home.blog/2019/...
The Model Wife is the latest offering of bestselling author Tricia Stringer and it’s one that I am sure all women will be able to relate to on some level. I am thrilled to be able to bring you this review on it’s release day. How very exciting! Congratulations Tricia on another tale that resonates.
Natalie King is a farmer’s wife, mother, daughter-in-law and teacher whose life is full, sometimes a little too full. So full that she never sits back to wonder if she’s actually happy and satisfied with her life. She’s also the one everyone depends on, taking for granted the fact that she will always be there when she needs them.
In the whirlwind of every day life Natalie always has a to-do list a mile long, and it seems that no-one notices what she does; only those things that she forgets. This is something that really resonated with me with the juggle of young children, work, housework, errands, reviews and then the guilt if there was something that I just couldn’t fit in. It is something I’m sure we all relate to at some stage.
Natalie’s children are grown and two of them live away from home, Bree lives in attached quarters and helps her father run the farm. All mothers know though, that your job as a mother is never done. Just because the children are grown and living far away doesn’t make them need their mother less, maybe a little less often but you always need your mum.
In a week that everything seems to be getting on top of her Natalie then finds she needs to make an urgent trip to Adelaide for life changing tests. She forgets the impending arrival of her youngest daughter and other commitments she had in the rush.
The appointment was certainly life-changing, but not in the way she was expecting. It was enough to make her sit back and look at her life, study her life satisfaction and look at what she wished was different.
A farmer and his wife are very much tied to their farm so travel has always been something that ended up in the too hard basket, but it is something that Natalie has always wanted to do. On the spur of the moment, which is completely out of character, Natalie decides to take some time out and visit her best friend, who has moved from the neighbouring farm to Queensland. The problem with spur of the moment decisions and surprise visits is that people can’t cater for your plans if they don’t know about them, which is why Natalie finds herself at the airport on her way to visit a friend who is actually on her way to Thailand. Faced with the choice of returning home or changing her plans Natalie opts to take herself on a holiday to somewhere completely new.
The Model Wife is a story about family, relationships, betrayals, friendship and community that warmed my heart but also wasn’t short of a laugh.
As a young bride Natalie was gifted a book by her mother-in-law, an outdated tome of advice on how to become a model wife. Surely a gag gift, designed to give a laugh, because in this day and age who still subscribes to the ideals that a woman’s place is in the kitchen, ensuring the happiness of her husband. She laughed it off at the time but over the years has made the book into a scrapbook of sorts which I think was explored just beautifully. Stringer expertly weaves snippets of The Model Wife into the narrative to show how Natalie has inadvertently followed the advice in her own way.
I actually adored the characters in this story. I could relate to Natalie but I also watched the growth in her family and grew to love them for it. Milt knew why Natalie needed a break and he made sure the girls allowed her to enjoy that break even though they would have loved to talk to her about what was on their minds. But what I loved the most about Milt was that he recognised some things in himself that maybe needed some analysis and set to ticking things off the to-do list around the house that had needed doing long term but never quite made it to top priority.
Natalie’s break created a new independence in those who relied on her the heaviest and it was the best thing for all of them. It’s lovely to be needed, and it’s lovely to be there for those you love but it’s amazing to watch those you love go on to find their own vibe.
The Model Wife explores relationships both familial and romantic but I think the one I loved watching the most was Natalie and her mother-in-law. It is very easy to make assumptions about where you think things are coming from but open lines of communication can make you see things in a completely different light.
There is so much to love in The Model Wife and I think it will appeal to a wide range of readers. I have only touched briefly on all of the things going on but I think I’ve rambled enough, definitely check it out for yourself.
It’s kind of funny, I sit here trying to think of a concise and witty close to this review and it makes me think of the one line I had planned right from the beginning and haven’t written…
As a busy wife and mother I’m sure most of you have, at one time or another, wanted to run away from home, I know that I certainly have. Well, Natalie King did it and it turned out to be one of the best decisions she could have made, for herself and her family.
Tricia Stringer you have done it again, an in-depth and sensitive exploration of all things family; the good, the bad and the hard to handle. I loved it and I can’t wait to read what you have in store for us next.
The Model Wife was read as part of #AWW2019 but I still haven’t gone back to find out what number.
Review posted at: https://miclovesbooks.home.blog/2019/...
The Model Wife is the latest offering of bestselling author Tricia Stringer and it’s one that I am sure all women will be able to relate to on some level. I am thrilled to be able to bring you this review on it’s release day. How very exciting! Congratulations Tricia on another tale that resonates.
Natalie King is a farmer’s wife, mother, daughter-in-law and teacher whose life is full, sometimes a little too full. So full that she never sits back to wonder if she’s actually happy and satisfied with her life. She’s also the one everyone depends on, taking for granted the fact that she will always be there when she needs them.
In the whirlwind of every day life Natalie always has a to-do list a mile long, and it seems that no-one notices what she does; only those things that she forgets. This is something that really resonated with me with the juggle of young children, work, housework, errands, reviews and then the guilt if there was something that I just couldn’t fit in. It is something I’m sure we all relate to at some stage.
Natalie’s children are grown and two of them live away from home, Bree lives in attached quarters and helps her father run the farm. All mothers know though, that your job as a mother is never done. Just because the children are grown and living far away doesn’t make them need their mother less, maybe a little less often but you always need your mum.
In a week that everything seems to be getting on top of her Natalie then finds she needs to make an urgent trip to Adelaide for life changing tests. She forgets the impending arrival of her youngest daughter and other commitments she had in the rush.
The appointment was certainly life-changing, but not in the way she was expecting. It was enough to make her sit back and look at her life, study her life satisfaction and look at what she wished was different.
A farmer and his wife are very much tied to their farm so travel has always been something that ended up in the too hard basket, but it is something that Natalie has always wanted to do. On the spur of the moment, which is completely out of character, Natalie decides to take some time out and visit her best friend, who has moved from the neighbouring farm to Queensland. The problem with spur of the moment decisions and surprise visits is that people can’t cater for your plans if they don’t know about them, which is why Natalie finds herself at the airport on her way to visit a friend who is actually on her way to Thailand. Faced with the choice of returning home or changing her plans Natalie opts to take herself on a holiday to somewhere completely new.
The Model Wife is a story about family, relationships, betrayals, friendship and community that warmed my heart but also wasn’t short of a laugh.
As a young bride Natalie was gifted a book by her mother-in-law, an outdated tome of advice on how to become a model wife. Surely a gag gift, designed to give a laugh, because in this day and age who still subscribes to the ideals that a woman’s place is in the kitchen, ensuring the happiness of her husband. She laughed it off at the time but over the years has made the book into a scrapbook of sorts which I think was explored just beautifully. Stringer expertly weaves snippets of The Model Wife into the narrative to show how Natalie has inadvertently followed the advice in her own way.
I actually adored the characters in this story. I could relate to Natalie but I also watched the growth in her family and grew to love them for it. Milt knew why Natalie needed a break and he made sure the girls allowed her to enjoy that break even though they would have loved to talk to her about what was on their minds. But what I loved the most about Milt was that he recognised some things in himself that maybe needed some analysis and set to ticking things off the to-do list around the house that had needed doing long term but never quite made it to top priority.
Natalie’s break created a new independence in those who relied on her the heaviest and it was the best thing for all of them. It’s lovely to be needed, and it’s lovely to be there for those you love but it’s amazing to watch those you love go on to find their own vibe.
The Model Wife explores relationships both familial and romantic but I think the one I loved watching the most was Natalie and her mother-in-law. It is very easy to make assumptions about where you think things are coming from but open lines of communication can make you see things in a completely different light.
There is so much to love in The Model Wife and I think it will appeal to a wide range of readers. I have only touched briefly on all of the things going on but I think I’ve rambled enough, definitely check it out for yourself.
It’s kind of funny, I sit here trying to think of a concise and witty close to this review and it makes me think of the one line I had planned right from the beginning and haven’t written…
As a busy wife and mother I’m sure most of you have, at one time or another, wanted to run away from home, I know that I certainly have. Well, Natalie King did it and it turned out to be one of the best decisions she could have made, for herself and her family.
Tricia Stringer you have done it again, an in-depth and sensitive exploration of all things family; the good, the bad and the hard to handle. I loved it and I can’t wait to read what you have in store for us next.
The Model Wife was read as part of #AWW2019 but I still haven’t gone back to find out what number.
January 10, 2025
Tricia Stringer is one of my favourite authors. I haven’t read one of her books for a long time. I was certainly not disappointed - it kept me interested the whole way through.
I am very happy that I have more of her books on my bookshelf.
I am very happy that I have more of her books on my bookshelf.
October 5, 2019
Tricia Stringer books always strike a chord with her faithful audience. On this occasion, it involves how we all at some stage of life (without a doubt), dreamt of running away. When it all gets too much for this ‘model wife’, that’s exactly what she does! This is a truthful story of family life and the daily struggles that all members face, however, a special focus on Mum, Natalie. It’s a journey of her soul searching and eventual evolution into who she is and her role with the people she loves.
You know how it is ... looking after those in your life, putting everyone’s needs ahead of your own. Just once you’d like someone to listen and care for you. The realism of this situation brings a real authenticity to this tale. In fact, there are messages that are sure to ring true for the variety of multigenerational characters portrayed - from the grandmother, to Natalie, to her daughters struggling with their own issues and finding their place in the world. There is surely something to appeal to everybody in this story. Bring into this mixture a spotlight on the plight of farmers - issues of land ownership and entitlements - and the story delves much deeper than just a character analysis.
A long read at the 500 page mark, it does however, provide an in depth look at how varying people deal with the stresses in their lives. Tricia sets everything up for you get a feel for each member of the family and what they are facing. This is realistic reading at its best as many have faced feelings or situations similar and familiar to you or those close to you. Undoubtedly there have been conversations about some of the issues raised (for any of the family members) that you have surely discussed over a cup of tea at the kitchen table with regards to how they were to be handled.
I definitely recommend this book as a deep and true exploration of families and all the baggage that they come with and how this particular family deals with it.
‘Outside the landscape was familiar and yet alien. Like the pieces of her life she thought she knew so well but that were shifting around her again.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
You know how it is ... looking after those in your life, putting everyone’s needs ahead of your own. Just once you’d like someone to listen and care for you. The realism of this situation brings a real authenticity to this tale. In fact, there are messages that are sure to ring true for the variety of multigenerational characters portrayed - from the grandmother, to Natalie, to her daughters struggling with their own issues and finding their place in the world. There is surely something to appeal to everybody in this story. Bring into this mixture a spotlight on the plight of farmers - issues of land ownership and entitlements - and the story delves much deeper than just a character analysis.
A long read at the 500 page mark, it does however, provide an in depth look at how varying people deal with the stresses in their lives. Tricia sets everything up for you get a feel for each member of the family and what they are facing. This is realistic reading at its best as many have faced feelings or situations similar and familiar to you or those close to you. Undoubtedly there have been conversations about some of the issues raised (for any of the family members) that you have surely discussed over a cup of tea at the kitchen table with regards to how they were to be handled.
I definitely recommend this book as a deep and true exploration of families and all the baggage that they come with and how this particular family deals with it.
‘Outside the landscape was familiar and yet alien. Like the pieces of her life she thought she knew so well but that were shifting around her again.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
April 3, 2021
Kitsch. I wish that there were vivid descriptions of the landscape, particularly Broome and the surrounding areas. I actually found the physical description of characters and the surrounds to be sadly lacking in this book. Emotional description of what characters were experiencing were there, but not anything too insightful or overly interesting. Lots of glossing over topics that could have been delved into and explored more.
A typically 'chick-lit' book aimed at someone to read alongside the pool whilst on holiday. Good potential, but sadly not fully explored or developed.
A typically 'chick-lit' book aimed at someone to read alongside the pool whilst on holiday. Good potential, but sadly not fully explored or developed.
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