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The Secret Wife
In 1961, on the day that Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human to rocket into outer space, Edith Devine moves into her brand-new suburban home—and meets her new neighbour, Frankie Heyman. Frankie is a glamorous, sophisticated foil to the quiet, clever Edith, and the two housewives become firm friends.
Then, when Frankie’s domineering husband Ralph refuses to let her get a job, Edith hatches a plan to keep her friend’s household running while Frankie secretly goes out to work—and so Edith becomes Frankie’s secret wife. As Frankie builds a business empire, Edith runs both their homes: dusting, cleaning and cooking her way through the sexual revolution, the summer of love and the second wave of feminism. Throughout the 1960s, the world’s great events seem to be mirrored in the lives of two women—until the day in 1969 when the first humans step out onto the surface of the moon, and Frankie and Edith face a calamitous reckoning.
The Secret Wife is an irresistible story of fierce love, unconditional sacrifice and the transcendent power of pulling together.
Then, when Frankie’s domineering husband Ralph refuses to let her get a job, Edith hatches a plan to keep her friend’s household running while Frankie secretly goes out to work—and so Edith becomes Frankie’s secret wife. As Frankie builds a business empire, Edith runs both their homes: dusting, cleaning and cooking her way through the sexual revolution, the summer of love and the second wave of feminism. Throughout the 1960s, the world’s great events seem to be mirrored in the lives of two women—until the day in 1969 when the first humans step out onto the surface of the moon, and Frankie and Edith face a calamitous reckoning.
The Secret Wife is an irresistible story of fierce love, unconditional sacrifice and the transcendent power of pulling together.
314 pages, Paperback
Published March 29, 2022
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340 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
March 23, 2022
A look at suburban life in 1960s Australia particularly looking at the changing roles of women and attitudes towards women. Two families move to a newly built houses in a suburban street, Catholics Edith and husband Charlie and two daughters move into a battleship grey painted house and across the road, Frankie, husband Ralph and two sons move into a bright yellow house. Edith is shy but instantly decides she wants to be friends with the woman who has painted her house such a noticeable colour. And the two women do become close friends.
I was initially drawn to this book by the cover but the story hooked me. Edith can correlate all the major events in her own life with major world events and of course the sixties are full of events, space exploration, assassinations etc and these line up with the happenings in her life. A great storyteller she tells Frankie about her childhood, her mother, meeting her husband… but Frankie is a more closed character, her husband is controlling and old fashioned (the white glove test!). She’s beautiful and is approached to become a model, somehow she and Edith manage to keep Frankie’s expanding career a secret from her husband. It’s well written and I raced through the second half of the book, an excellent read!
I was initially drawn to this book by the cover but the story hooked me. Edith can correlate all the major events in her own life with major world events and of course the sixties are full of events, space exploration, assassinations etc and these line up with the happenings in her life. A great storyteller she tells Frankie about her childhood, her mother, meeting her husband… but Frankie is a more closed character, her husband is controlling and old fashioned (the white glove test!). She’s beautiful and is approached to become a model, somehow she and Edith manage to keep Frankie’s expanding career a secret from her husband. It’s well written and I raced through the second half of the book, an excellent read!
May 3, 2022
⭐️5 Stars⭐️
The Secret Wife by Mark Lamprell
What a treat this book was! Have you ever come across a book that just completely surprises you and is so different to anything that you’ve ever read before?
The Secret Wife is interwoven with world events (especially space events) in the sixties and is smart, witty and tense. It has one of the biggest plot shocks I’ve experienced whilst reading, it didn’t leave my head for days as it was quite confronting.
Set in Australia, devoted husband and wife Charlie and Edith and their two daughters are moving into a new housing development where all of the homes are painted in pretty pastel colours. It’s here Edith Devine meets her glamorous new neighbour Frankie and they become fast friends stuck in the suburbs!
Edith Devine is a quirky and loveable character with a touch of society anxiety and she believes that world events influence what kind of day she will having. When Frankie’s controlling husband Ralph refuses to allow her to work Edith comes up with a solution so Frankie can go out to work modelling.
Some of the storyline is bizarre and hilarious but there are also parts in the story that are deeply emotional and heartbreaking.
The story has strong themes of female friendships, feminism, domestic abuse, miscarriage and the need to keep secrets.
I loved this book, the writing was brilliant and I certainly want to pick up more of Lamprell’s work. Warning Although whimsical and charming as this story was there are some horrifying scenes.
Publication date 29 March 2022
Publisher Text Publishing
Thank you so much Text Publishing for sending this surprising fabulous read my way!
The Secret Wife by Mark Lamprell
What a treat this book was! Have you ever come across a book that just completely surprises you and is so different to anything that you’ve ever read before?
The Secret Wife is interwoven with world events (especially space events) in the sixties and is smart, witty and tense. It has one of the biggest plot shocks I’ve experienced whilst reading, it didn’t leave my head for days as it was quite confronting.
Set in Australia, devoted husband and wife Charlie and Edith and their two daughters are moving into a new housing development where all of the homes are painted in pretty pastel colours. It’s here Edith Devine meets her glamorous new neighbour Frankie and they become fast friends stuck in the suburbs!
Edith Devine is a quirky and loveable character with a touch of society anxiety and she believes that world events influence what kind of day she will having. When Frankie’s controlling husband Ralph refuses to allow her to work Edith comes up with a solution so Frankie can go out to work modelling.
Some of the storyline is bizarre and hilarious but there are also parts in the story that are deeply emotional and heartbreaking.
The story has strong themes of female friendships, feminism, domestic abuse, miscarriage and the need to keep secrets.
I loved this book, the writing was brilliant and I certainly want to pick up more of Lamprell’s work. Warning Although whimsical and charming as this story was there are some horrifying scenes.
Publication date 29 March 2022
Publisher Text Publishing
Thank you so much Text Publishing for sending this surprising fabulous read my way!
April 2, 2022
The Secret Wife is the third novel by Australian author, Mark Lamprell. It’s 1961, and Edith Devine is happily married to Charlie, mother of teenaged Margaret and Susan, and content to spend her days in her new, (non-quite-intentionally) gun-metal-grey, house in a new subdivision, a devoted Catholic and a dedicated homemaker. So why is she, several times a week, sneaking into the house across the road to clean and prepare meals?
As soon as Edie saw the buttercup-yellow house (amid a street of pastels) she wanted to know the owner. When she meets beautiful, loud Francesca Heyman, she is desperate to impress. Introverted Edie is sure she’s failed, but Frankie is just as fascinated: they click.
Edie never actually realises that Frankie shares her crush: “Nobody could express pleasure and disapproval in the same smile quite as gloriously as Edith. Frankie ached to see that smile. When they first met, she thought Edith a funny fish, oddly clever, endearingly forthright. She had not the slightest idea of the impact the lady across the road would make upon her. Frankie could not place the moment that Edith had hooked her heart, but that was what happened—what must have happened. Because at some point Frankie lost herself.”
Police Senior Sergeant Ralph Heyman, though, is a bit controlling, Edie observes. When Frankie is about to dismiss a modelling job offer, something she’s desperate to do, Edie offers to do Frankie’s housekeeping so that she will pass Ralph’s weekly white glove test. As for his odometer check, Frankie has a clever way around that…
So Frankie models and Edie cleans. Some days they have close calls and Frankie is quick and inventive, but Edie worries about the fallout if (or more likely, when) Ralph discovers the deceit.
What a quirky, but lovable protagonist Edie is! From a young age, she has observed: “Normally a momentous event in her life would be foreshadowed by a momentous event in the larger world” although on one occasion she worries it might be the reverse. Her back story is told whenever Frankie needs a distraction: a life that includes grief and loss, a brush with a paedophile, and several failed pregnancies, all offset by the unfailing love and support of the wonderful Charlie.
Is Edie the foil for the flamboyant Frankie, or is it the other way around? The remaining cast includes two young women questioning their parents’ values, a cross-dressing teen, and nosy neighbours. There are secret driving lessons, a handsome young priest, a suicide attempt, and a falling out, all against the backdrop of the swinging sixties and the space race.
With well-placed popular cultural references and world events, Lamprell easily evokes his era and the social mindset of that time. And with minimal effort, readers of a certain vintage will have instantly formed an image in their minds of the setting: the street, the house, the décor, the fashion and the food. The story is occasionally a bit far-fetched, often hilarious but sometimes lump-in-the-throat tearful, so have the tissues ready, especially for the final chapters. This is Lamprell’s best yet.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Text Publishing.
As soon as Edie saw the buttercup-yellow house (amid a street of pastels) she wanted to know the owner. When she meets beautiful, loud Francesca Heyman, she is desperate to impress. Introverted Edie is sure she’s failed, but Frankie is just as fascinated: they click.
Edie never actually realises that Frankie shares her crush: “Nobody could express pleasure and disapproval in the same smile quite as gloriously as Edith. Frankie ached to see that smile. When they first met, she thought Edith a funny fish, oddly clever, endearingly forthright. She had not the slightest idea of the impact the lady across the road would make upon her. Frankie could not place the moment that Edith had hooked her heart, but that was what happened—what must have happened. Because at some point Frankie lost herself.”
Police Senior Sergeant Ralph Heyman, though, is a bit controlling, Edie observes. When Frankie is about to dismiss a modelling job offer, something she’s desperate to do, Edie offers to do Frankie’s housekeeping so that she will pass Ralph’s weekly white glove test. As for his odometer check, Frankie has a clever way around that…
So Frankie models and Edie cleans. Some days they have close calls and Frankie is quick and inventive, but Edie worries about the fallout if (or more likely, when) Ralph discovers the deceit.
What a quirky, but lovable protagonist Edie is! From a young age, she has observed: “Normally a momentous event in her life would be foreshadowed by a momentous event in the larger world” although on one occasion she worries it might be the reverse. Her back story is told whenever Frankie needs a distraction: a life that includes grief and loss, a brush with a paedophile, and several failed pregnancies, all offset by the unfailing love and support of the wonderful Charlie.
Is Edie the foil for the flamboyant Frankie, or is it the other way around? The remaining cast includes two young women questioning their parents’ values, a cross-dressing teen, and nosy neighbours. There are secret driving lessons, a handsome young priest, a suicide attempt, and a falling out, all against the backdrop of the swinging sixties and the space race.
With well-placed popular cultural references and world events, Lamprell easily evokes his era and the social mindset of that time. And with minimal effort, readers of a certain vintage will have instantly formed an image in their minds of the setting: the street, the house, the décor, the fashion and the food. The story is occasionally a bit far-fetched, often hilarious but sometimes lump-in-the-throat tearful, so have the tissues ready, especially for the final chapters. This is Lamprell’s best yet.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Text Publishing.
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August 5, 2022The following book reviews have been shared by Text Publishing – publisher of The Secret Wife
'The ongoing subjugation of women through our performance of emotional and domestic labour is a serious matter, and The Secret Wife is a welcome addition to a slew of recent novels drawing attention to the thankless maintenance work with which women continue to be saddled.’
Monthly
‘All the beauty and wonder of female relations.’
Jessie Tu, Age/ SMH
‘A story of innocence told beautifully.’
Canberra Times
'A clever, funny and charming read that will whisk you off to another era entirely.’
Better Reading
‘[A] story of female friendship, sacrifice and women’s empowerment…Lamprell brilliantly aligns [historical events] with Edith and Frankie’s own story.’
Cheryl Akle, Australian
‘A staggeringly beautiful book.’
Australian Women’s Weekly
‘Lamprell’s characters are well-drawn [and] the prose is concise and somewhat cinematic. [The Secret Wife is] a literary page-turner that I suspect will appeal to fans of Frank Moorhouse’s Edith Trilogy.’
Historical Novels Review
'The ongoing subjugation of women through our performance of emotional and domestic labour is a serious matter, and The Secret Wife is a welcome addition to a slew of recent novels drawing attention to the thankless maintenance work with which women continue to be saddled.’
Monthly
‘All the beauty and wonder of female relations.’
Jessie Tu, Age/ SMH
‘A story of innocence told beautifully.’
Canberra Times
'A clever, funny and charming read that will whisk you off to another era entirely.’
Better Reading
‘[A] story of female friendship, sacrifice and women’s empowerment…Lamprell brilliantly aligns [historical events] with Edith and Frankie’s own story.’
Cheryl Akle, Australian
‘A staggeringly beautiful book.’
Australian Women’s Weekly
‘Lamprell’s characters are well-drawn [and] the prose is concise and somewhat cinematic. [The Secret Wife is] a literary page-turner that I suspect will appeal to fans of Frank Moorhouse’s Edith Trilogy.’
Historical Novels Review
March 1, 2022
Set in 1960's Australia Edith Devine is a housewife who believes all her major life experiences align with world events. A nicely written tale about friendship and what it means to be a woman. At times it was somewhat unbelievable as to how a woman could build a business empire over a number of years and her husband is convinced she's at home cooking and cleaning but a solid three stars. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy.
April 16, 2022
What an exceptional novel this is. The story of two neighbours and a lasting friendship. Frankie and Edith both move into a new suburb in the 1960's where the cookie cutter houses are all the same except for the colour of the paint! Frankie is ex army and Edith is a very nervous individual with no confidence at all. A friendship begins and soon there are secrets with both friends that last a long time.
This novel took me back to my own childhood growing up in the 60's. I could relate to many of the situations portrayed in it including my mother owning an electric floor polisher and the attitude of the catholic religion. The nosy neighbours were around in my era and the general attitude that the man goes to work and the wife stays at home was expertly written.
Such a great novel, and if I had not known the author was male I would have sworn it was written by a female author as the friendship between the two women was written with such detail and their love and respect for each other shone through. 5* for me - and highly recommended to readers of Women's fiction.
This novel took me back to my own childhood growing up in the 60's. I could relate to many of the situations portrayed in it including my mother owning an electric floor polisher and the attitude of the catholic religion. The nosy neighbours were around in my era and the general attitude that the man goes to work and the wife stays at home was expertly written.
Such a great novel, and if I had not known the author was male I would have sworn it was written by a female author as the friendship between the two women was written with such detail and their love and respect for each other shone through. 5* for me - and highly recommended to readers of Women's fiction.
March 13, 2022
The Secret Wife is a look back at the 60's in Australia, a time when many women weren't "allowed" to make their own decisions and were expected to be housewives and to forego careers outside the home. As frustrating and misogynistic as that time was, this book takes a charming and nostalgic look at what happens when two friends decide to challenge that mindset.
Edith and Frankie are housewives that have just moved into a brand new subdivision. They quickly become friends, even though their personalities are vastly different. Frankie is gorgeous and has aspirations that she is afraid to pursue because of a domineering husband. Edith is a happy homebody, yet is, in some ways, much more adventurous than Frankie.
When Edith persuades Frankie to take a modeling job, she becomes a "secret wife" to Frankie's husband Ralph, cleaning and cooking while Frankie is out and Ralph is at work. Edith's husband is jovial and goes along with the intrigue. What happens as their friendship develops and things get more complicated is complex, and the reader finds that there is a lot more to Edith than meets the eye.
I loved this book. It was a reach back in time, encapsulating all of the historic occurrences of the 60's. Funny and serious, and a bit unbelievable at the same time, we are taken in with the deep friendship of two women. The ending, while sad in a real way, was also charming and sweet, and a bit of a surprise!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reading copy in exchange for my honest review.
Edith and Frankie are housewives that have just moved into a brand new subdivision. They quickly become friends, even though their personalities are vastly different. Frankie is gorgeous and has aspirations that she is afraid to pursue because of a domineering husband. Edith is a happy homebody, yet is, in some ways, much more adventurous than Frankie.
When Edith persuades Frankie to take a modeling job, she becomes a "secret wife" to Frankie's husband Ralph, cleaning and cooking while Frankie is out and Ralph is at work. Edith's husband is jovial and goes along with the intrigue. What happens as their friendship develops and things get more complicated is complex, and the reader finds that there is a lot more to Edith than meets the eye.
I loved this book. It was a reach back in time, encapsulating all of the historic occurrences of the 60's. Funny and serious, and a bit unbelievable at the same time, we are taken in with the deep friendship of two women. The ending, while sad in a real way, was also charming and sweet, and a bit of a surprise!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reading copy in exchange for my honest review.
March 13, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and Text Publishing for an advanced e-reader copy of this book. This is a solid 4.5 stars. It has a unique structure that I really liked. Edith's major life events, good and bad, seem to coincide with important world events, good and bad. As her life unfolds, her relationships with her family and with her friend and neighbor, Frankie, shift and grow. She becomes more confident as times goes by, and her views on several topics, especially the role of women, changes as the world at large becomes more focused on equality and empowerment. The reader watches history unfold, particularly the 60s-such an interesting exploration of that time period. This book really kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next! I was lucky enough to have a nice stretch of time to read, so I finished most of it in a day. Here's the rub, though. It publishes in Australia and New Zealand on March 29th. I have no idea if it will be published in the U.S., but I sure hope so! It's available on Amazon-Australia as a Kindle book, but I have no idea if you can order the digital copy from the U.S. - might be worth an inquiry.
April 12, 2022
Thank you Text Publishing for sending us a copy to read and review.
A behind the walls expose’ tale of 1960’s suburban life and a strong friendship.
Highlighting the changing roles towards women and mixing in real life events this topical and interesting read is one to look out for.
It’s 1961 and Edith leads an ordinary life with her supportive husband and two daughters.
Then one dull day she meets glamorous new wife and neighbour Frankie.
The two become friends and form a close friendship.
Edith soon discovers Frankie’s husband Ralph is mean and argumentative.
When Ralph refuses to let Frankie get a job, the twosome secretly begin to make plans.
While Frankie is out during the day working, Edith will cook and clean the household.
But then things begin to unravel and nothing is the same again.
Readers of a certain age will instantly bond with this story but that doesn’t mean all adults won’t enjoy this suburban drama, that has a lot going for it.
It’s a fast paced, engaging view that has a fantastic sense of nostalgia.
I was immediately whisked away to the past with the wonderful descriptions of the bygone era with the decor, fashion, attitudes, social issues, neighbourhood, food and culture, all really capturing that decade.
Frankie and Edith are appealing lead female characters with real flaws, are gutsy and have a strong bond.
An enjoyable, clever and at times humorous book.
A behind the walls expose’ tale of 1960’s suburban life and a strong friendship.
Highlighting the changing roles towards women and mixing in real life events this topical and interesting read is one to look out for.
It’s 1961 and Edith leads an ordinary life with her supportive husband and two daughters.
Then one dull day she meets glamorous new wife and neighbour Frankie.
The two become friends and form a close friendship.
Edith soon discovers Frankie’s husband Ralph is mean and argumentative.
When Ralph refuses to let Frankie get a job, the twosome secretly begin to make plans.
While Frankie is out during the day working, Edith will cook and clean the household.
But then things begin to unravel and nothing is the same again.
Readers of a certain age will instantly bond with this story but that doesn’t mean all adults won’t enjoy this suburban drama, that has a lot going for it.
It’s a fast paced, engaging view that has a fantastic sense of nostalgia.
I was immediately whisked away to the past with the wonderful descriptions of the bygone era with the decor, fashion, attitudes, social issues, neighbourhood, food and culture, all really capturing that decade.
Frankie and Edith are appealing lead female characters with real flaws, are gutsy and have a strong bond.
An enjoyable, clever and at times humorous book.
February 20, 2022
I requested this book from Netgalley based on the cover and summary, but the story just didn't live up to it. Edith was a frustrating parody of a Stepford Wife that I kept waiting and waiting to evolve, but she just kept on as she was. And while Frankie was originally introduced as a firecracker who might shake things up, she fizzled and eventually became as uninteresting to me as Edith was. The book still could have been salvaged by sticking the landing, but then came the absolutely godawful ending that almost made me want to delete the book from my reading history.
Hugely disappointing in all aspects.
Hugely disappointing in all aspects.
March 2, 2022
In 1961, when Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human to journey to outer space, Edith Devine moves into her newly built home in the suburbs. Edith, the consummate housewife, is happily married to Charlie, and they have two teenage daughters. Yes, theirs is the American Dream come to life. When Frankie and Ralph (and their two sons) move into the yellow house next door, Edith and Frankie become best friends.
Frankie is oh so glamorous. She wants more than a future of homemaking, but her domineering husband (what an oaf!) would never allow such a thing. Edith and Frankie hatch a plan—Frankie gets a part-time modeling job, and Edith secretively takes care of the household chores and cooking for both families.
Everything works according to plan for a while.
Edith closely follows world news (especially the space race). She considers a momentous world event a sign of something major to come within her own life. I love this about her! Frankie has a mind for business and thrives in her secret career. (What a time when women had to hide their God-given talents.)
The author did a fantastic job of describing the culture and society of the 1960s and early 1970s. I grew up during those years and remembered many of my mother’s daily routines as depicted in the story (i.e., mounds of laundry to iron, soap operas in the afternoon, supper on the table by 6 p.m., etc.)
The Secret Wife is a story about the friendship between two women longing to be liberated. I was reminded of Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates (although The Secret Wife is much more light-hearted). The story’s ending shocked me and was not altogether satisfying, but overall I found this quick read engaging with a charming dose of nostalgia.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book prior to publication. Opinions are my own.
Favorite Quote: Unlike the rest of the known universe, she was not fond of the Beatles. She was not impressed by their incoherent wailing, and their yeah yeah yeahs, and she was extremely unimpressed by their claim to be more popular than Jesus.
Frankie is oh so glamorous. She wants more than a future of homemaking, but her domineering husband (what an oaf!) would never allow such a thing. Edith and Frankie hatch a plan—Frankie gets a part-time modeling job, and Edith secretively takes care of the household chores and cooking for both families.
Everything works according to plan for a while.
Edith closely follows world news (especially the space race). She considers a momentous world event a sign of something major to come within her own life. I love this about her! Frankie has a mind for business and thrives in her secret career. (What a time when women had to hide their God-given talents.)
The author did a fantastic job of describing the culture and society of the 1960s and early 1970s. I grew up during those years and remembered many of my mother’s daily routines as depicted in the story (i.e., mounds of laundry to iron, soap operas in the afternoon, supper on the table by 6 p.m., etc.)
The Secret Wife is a story about the friendship between two women longing to be liberated. I was reminded of Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates (although The Secret Wife is much more light-hearted). The story’s ending shocked me and was not altogether satisfying, but overall I found this quick read engaging with a charming dose of nostalgia.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book prior to publication. Opinions are my own.
Favorite Quote: Unlike the rest of the known universe, she was not fond of the Beatles. She was not impressed by their incoherent wailing, and their yeah yeah yeahs, and she was extremely unimpressed by their claim to be more popular than Jesus.
April 9, 2022
Best book I’ve read in ages. Couldn’t put in down. Smart, witty, well written, a true delight. A great story brilliantly told.
October 1, 2022
Edith meets her new neighbor Frankie, whom she quickly gets attached to. And when Frankie's husband won't allow her to do a job, they both hatch a plan that will be their little secret and that will make Edith 'The secret wife'. but what unfolds after is a funny and thrilling journey along with the changing world.
It's actually somewhere around 3.8 stars.
so, let's break it down.
The plot felt so good with the real-life coincidences that act as omens for Edith and people around her. The pot is set in 60s and is interesting from beginning to the end. but of course, there are some things that I absolutely hated. Though there are many characters, we only ever focus on Edith. It was all about Edith. Which would have been great too, but I wanted to know more about other interesting characters like- Johnny, Charlie, Frankie. I only ever cared about Edith and Charlie. all the other characters were just there to fill in the empty spots. Even Frankie, whom we are supposed to love/hate (Quirky and Femme-fetal type) felt bland and blended with the surroundings.
I loved the concept of Secret wife but after a while it became something else. this was a story about a woman who for a brief period in her life was a secret wife to a friend (whom she had feelings for!) and I want to caution you here. this book as i said is not about female friendships. it's about one side live. though at the end it might look different but to me it was a one side love story. why? well, let's discuss it in the spoilers section.
The concept of Edith comparing her life and taking world changing events was good but sometimes it felt like, "what? "
for Ex- "... and it came as a strange relief to learn that as she was giving birth to Susan, her second and youngest surviving child, Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated and Orville Wright died. "
Ok, I agree we are reading about a possible OCD character but still, girl, WTF.
Edith transitioned and her character did develop but was not enough. she was introduced as a person who fumbles while baking cookies for her new neighbor, confused about which dress to wear to impress the new Nighbor, and as a people pleaser. her character did change into someone who stands up for others, and someone who wants equal rights for women.
at one point author did try to make Edith sound like a teenager when she wished that her husband treated her a bit unkind. yeah, that's what everyone wants right? Not an amazing and loving husband but someone who treats them bad.
and her husband (Charlie) is the dream come true (Of course no one's without flaws). He is not the type who belongs to 60s he is a modern man. He understands the mental health and requests his wife to seek medical help. I love him already.
The backstories we get from Edith about her early life are my favorite, I felt like they were perfect, neither too vague nor too detailed, just perfect. (And of course, I hated Eileen - Edith's mother.- and her father as well, come to think of it.)
there were discrepancies as well that didn't really add up.
Like Edith visiting her neighbor before 7 Am in the morning just to have a casual chit chat.
Edith narrating the story of her early life-that she never really reveals to anyone- to a complete stranger on their very first meeting.
Portraying Croft's as nosy neighbors when all Mrs. Croft ever did was look through the window a few times and wanted to stop the barking dog.
Ralph not recognizing his own wife on magazine covers.
and I am wondering why would I give it 3.8 stars after all this?
Oh, it's because it was fun to read, and I breezed through it. Pick this book if you are looking for a light read, a cozy fast paced story.
*#*#*#*#*# SPOILERS *#*#*#*#*#*#
So, the thing that I hated the most with all my heart was Frankie never reciprocating Edith's love.
she did it at the end, but it was never made clear in the entire book, just as a shoulder grabbing gesture in one moment, that's it. I wanted to know more about what Frankie thinks of Edith, If she loves her? Will they end up together. I thought that was the worst thing. But nah, the worst was yet to come.
After Edith died, Frankie fucking confesses that she Fucking loves Charlie (Edith's husband, in case you forgot.) of course she doesn't say it out loud to Charlie. but I was devastated and hated when i read the Charlie and Frankie had kissed. Fuck them both. I loved Charlie and Have always hated Frankie for being a heartless bitch throughout the book. She never once showed a gesture that made us believe that she loved Edith. Don't say that buying expensive dresses for Edith counts as lovely gesture. no, that doesn't count. And whenever Edith wanted to talk about things that are affecting Frankie's life- Johnny being trans, revealing truth to ralph, Ralph being a psycho- Frankie never once sat down with Edith to talk. she only ever acted in a way that said - 'we are not close enough to discuss about these things, so let's fuckin stay formal'
The ending I was expecting was very far away.
I was expecting that Charlie will die and Frankie will leave Ralph to stay with Edith or they both will remain as widow and divorcee best friends/ in love with each other. I guess my expectations are far more impossible than the moon landing.
It's actually somewhere around 3.8 stars.
so, let's break it down.
The plot felt so good with the real-life coincidences that act as omens for Edith and people around her. The pot is set in 60s and is interesting from beginning to the end. but of course, there are some things that I absolutely hated. Though there are many characters, we only ever focus on Edith. It was all about Edith. Which would have been great too, but I wanted to know more about other interesting characters like- Johnny, Charlie, Frankie. I only ever cared about Edith and Charlie. all the other characters were just there to fill in the empty spots. Even Frankie, whom we are supposed to love/hate (Quirky and Femme-fetal type) felt bland and blended with the surroundings.
I loved the concept of Secret wife but after a while it became something else. this was a story about a woman who for a brief period in her life was a secret wife to a friend (whom she had feelings for!) and I want to caution you here. this book as i said is not about female friendships. it's about one side live. though at the end it might look different but to me it was a one side love story. why? well, let's discuss it in the spoilers section.
The concept of Edith comparing her life and taking world changing events was good but sometimes it felt like, "what? "
for Ex- "... and it came as a strange relief to learn that as she was giving birth to Susan, her second and youngest surviving child, Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated and Orville Wright died. "
Ok, I agree we are reading about a possible OCD character but still, girl, WTF.
Edith transitioned and her character did develop but was not enough. she was introduced as a person who fumbles while baking cookies for her new neighbor, confused about which dress to wear to impress the new Nighbor, and as a people pleaser. her character did change into someone who stands up for others, and someone who wants equal rights for women.
at one point author did try to make Edith sound like a teenager when she wished that her husband treated her a bit unkind. yeah, that's what everyone wants right? Not an amazing and loving husband but someone who treats them bad.
and her husband (Charlie) is the dream come true (Of course no one's without flaws). He is not the type who belongs to 60s he is a modern man. He understands the mental health and requests his wife to seek medical help. I love him already.
The backstories we get from Edith about her early life are my favorite, I felt like they were perfect, neither too vague nor too detailed, just perfect. (And of course, I hated Eileen - Edith's mother.- and her father as well, come to think of it.)
there were discrepancies as well that didn't really add up.
Like Edith visiting her neighbor before 7 Am in the morning just to have a casual chit chat.
Edith narrating the story of her early life-that she never really reveals to anyone- to a complete stranger on their very first meeting.
Portraying Croft's as nosy neighbors when all Mrs. Croft ever did was look through the window a few times and wanted to stop the barking dog.
Ralph not recognizing his own wife on magazine covers.
and I am wondering why would I give it 3.8 stars after all this?
Oh, it's because it was fun to read, and I breezed through it. Pick this book if you are looking for a light read, a cozy fast paced story.
*#*#*#*#*# SPOILERS *#*#*#*#*#*#
So, the thing that I hated the most with all my heart was Frankie never reciprocating Edith's love.
she did it at the end, but it was never made clear in the entire book, just as a shoulder grabbing gesture in one moment, that's it. I wanted to know more about what Frankie thinks of Edith, If she loves her? Will they end up together. I thought that was the worst thing. But nah, the worst was yet to come.
After Edith died, Frankie fucking confesses that she Fucking loves Charlie (Edith's husband, in case you forgot.) of course she doesn't say it out loud to Charlie. but I was devastated and hated when i read the Charlie and Frankie had kissed. Fuck them both. I loved Charlie and Have always hated Frankie for being a heartless bitch throughout the book. She never once showed a gesture that made us believe that she loved Edith. Don't say that buying expensive dresses for Edith counts as lovely gesture. no, that doesn't count. And whenever Edith wanted to talk about things that are affecting Frankie's life- Johnny being trans, revealing truth to ralph, Ralph being a psycho- Frankie never once sat down with Edith to talk. she only ever acted in a way that said - 'we are not close enough to discuss about these things, so let's fuckin stay formal'
The ending I was expecting was very far away.
I was expecting that Charlie will die and Frankie will leave Ralph to stay with Edith or they both will remain as widow and divorcee best friends/ in love with each other. I guess my expectations are far more impossible than the moon landing.
March 29, 2022
Happy Publishing Day to Mark Lamprell and The Secret Wife.
Set in the 1960s, we meet two wives who have moved into a new planned community. Edith, conservative wife and mother lives in the slate Grey house, while Frankie, a beautiful mother with some secrets moves into the flashy bright yellow house across the street. On a street of pastel houses, Edith and Frankie become fast friends.
This is a bit of a story of women’s rights told on the backdrop of world events that marked people’s lives in the 1960s - such as Vietnam, the Kennedy’s, Martin Luther King Junior and the moon landing. Frankie, an aspiring model and business tycoon goes behind her controlling husband’s back with the help of Edith, who is happy to keep both women’s households running and passing the white glove test.
While I enjoyed the timeline, I struggled for a bit to place the geography (Australia) and I also struggled a bit with Edith’s character. Who was she and what did she need? Or is that the story? How did the ladies grow up in one era and raise their children in the next… this seems to me an ongoing problem. The world is changing around us and to ensure our kids are not left behind, we must lead and encourage them to be what is next, not what was.
Thank you to NetGalley and Text Publishing for an E-ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book was a solid 4 for me because I love the 1960s and still sort of struggle with the age old question of how can I live my best life and encourage my daughter the same.
Set in the 1960s, we meet two wives who have moved into a new planned community. Edith, conservative wife and mother lives in the slate Grey house, while Frankie, a beautiful mother with some secrets moves into the flashy bright yellow house across the street. On a street of pastel houses, Edith and Frankie become fast friends.
This is a bit of a story of women’s rights told on the backdrop of world events that marked people’s lives in the 1960s - such as Vietnam, the Kennedy’s, Martin Luther King Junior and the moon landing. Frankie, an aspiring model and business tycoon goes behind her controlling husband’s back with the help of Edith, who is happy to keep both women’s households running and passing the white glove test.
While I enjoyed the timeline, I struggled for a bit to place the geography (Australia) and I also struggled a bit with Edith’s character. Who was she and what did she need? Or is that the story? How did the ladies grow up in one era and raise their children in the next… this seems to me an ongoing problem. The world is changing around us and to ensure our kids are not left behind, we must lead and encourage them to be what is next, not what was.
Thank you to NetGalley and Text Publishing for an E-ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book was a solid 4 for me because I love the 1960s and still sort of struggle with the age old question of how can I live my best life and encourage my daughter the same.
March 17, 2022
Hello to the Sixties! This book brings it back with the news reports in a quirky sort of way.
It begins in 1961 with Edith and Charlie moving into a new subdivision. Their new house has been painted a battle-grey color and Edith doesn’t care for it but it’s too late to make changes. It’s so typical in those days as people would just go along with no objections.
Edith is the housewife that cleans and cooks while wearing an apron not to mess up her beautiful clothes. She is married to the perfect husband, Charlie, with two daughters. She listens to the radio and correlates news reports to highlights in her life. Her father died when the Hindenburg exploded. Her sister died the same day that Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic. Gandhi was assassinated when her second daughter was born. I had to pause when she talked about news related to the atomic bombs which I remember with “duck and cover” exercises. “Anyone who survives will be breathing poisonous gases and eating poisonous food and they’ll die a horrible slow death.”
Across the street is picture-perfect Frankie in the perky yellow house. Edith bakes a few cakes and after each being a disaster, she ends up buying one to take to her new friend who looks like a model. She is married to Ralph who is the opposite of Charlie. He treats his wife more like an employee with the white-glove test. They have two boys about the same ages as they girls across the street.
The story of the two women is part believable but a lot of it is far-fetched. However, the book is cleverly written with the changes that occurred during the sixties. It made me go back to the memories from that time: when sandwiches were wrapped in wax paper, when there was a distinct difference between Catholics and Protestants, when my grandma was upset that I was wearing a two-piece bathing suit, when my older sister was more upset when I came home with birth control pills and when the world stopped with the assassination with JFK. It may be more interesting to those that lived through this time period as we can all relate to the daily news of the Vietnam war, women’s rights, racial prejudice and the music we still listen to. It was a time when the world was changing at a fast pace. I believe it would make a lively discussion. The ending was a little odd but it was a good reflection of what happened in these times.
My thanks to Mark Lamprell, Text Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy with the expected release date of March 29, 2022.
It begins in 1961 with Edith and Charlie moving into a new subdivision. Their new house has been painted a battle-grey color and Edith doesn’t care for it but it’s too late to make changes. It’s so typical in those days as people would just go along with no objections.
Edith is the housewife that cleans and cooks while wearing an apron not to mess up her beautiful clothes. She is married to the perfect husband, Charlie, with two daughters. She listens to the radio and correlates news reports to highlights in her life. Her father died when the Hindenburg exploded. Her sister died the same day that Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic. Gandhi was assassinated when her second daughter was born. I had to pause when she talked about news related to the atomic bombs which I remember with “duck and cover” exercises. “Anyone who survives will be breathing poisonous gases and eating poisonous food and they’ll die a horrible slow death.”
Across the street is picture-perfect Frankie in the perky yellow house. Edith bakes a few cakes and after each being a disaster, she ends up buying one to take to her new friend who looks like a model. She is married to Ralph who is the opposite of Charlie. He treats his wife more like an employee with the white-glove test. They have two boys about the same ages as they girls across the street.
The story of the two women is part believable but a lot of it is far-fetched. However, the book is cleverly written with the changes that occurred during the sixties. It made me go back to the memories from that time: when sandwiches were wrapped in wax paper, when there was a distinct difference between Catholics and Protestants, when my grandma was upset that I was wearing a two-piece bathing suit, when my older sister was more upset when I came home with birth control pills and when the world stopped with the assassination with JFK. It may be more interesting to those that lived through this time period as we can all relate to the daily news of the Vietnam war, women’s rights, racial prejudice and the music we still listen to. It was a time when the world was changing at a fast pace. I believe it would make a lively discussion. The ending was a little odd but it was a good reflection of what happened in these times.
My thanks to Mark Lamprell, Text Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy with the expected release date of March 29, 2022.
April 2, 2022
I really enjoyed this book! I have a fondness for stories with strong female friendships. I also have a long-standing interest in the 1960s so this book was right up my alley! I rated it 4 stars because parts of this story seemed a bit unrealistic.
Thank you to #NetGalley and #TextPublishing for the opportunity to review this ARC of #TheSecretWife in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to #NetGalley and #TextPublishing for the opportunity to review this ARC of #TheSecretWife in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 21, 2022
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
All opinions are my own.
I have very mixed feelings on this book. The premise itself is what intrigued me in the first place, but it didn't really go anywhere. I didn't identify with, or like too much, either of the main characters. I dislike when authors are overly descriptive about chores. And yet, I finished this book in less than a day and am still thinking about it 5 days later.
I can't decide if I would recommend this to others- mixed feelings and such.
Thank you to NetGalley and Text Publishing for the ARC!
All opinions are my own.
I have very mixed feelings on this book. The premise itself is what intrigued me in the first place, but it didn't really go anywhere. I didn't identify with, or like too much, either of the main characters. I dislike when authors are overly descriptive about chores. And yet, I finished this book in less than a day and am still thinking about it 5 days later.
I can't decide if I would recommend this to others- mixed feelings and such.
Thank you to NetGalley and Text Publishing for the ARC!
April 2, 2022
The Secret Wife takes us back to the 1960's when women lacked the autonomy that we have today. This was an enjoyable read as Frankie and Edith figure out how to get what they want despite the men in their life. Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.
August 5, 2022
A good page turner, excellent plane read. I loved Edith - the author did a great job of creating a sympathetic character both ahead and also completely of her time.
March 29, 2022
Great read, got for mother's day and was loved!!
March 9, 2022
This is a story that is beautifully written and takes us through the development of a friendship between two women who are interesting and unique in their own ways. I love how it is interwoven with events throughout the 1960's in a way that feels different from anything I've read before. Since I was not alive in that time period I had to look up a few of them because I had never heard of them. What a great way to spark interest in recent history!
There are situations in the story that touch on topics of that time that make us cringe today. A good reminder of how things once were and should never be again. A lesson for those who get nostalgic about those times being the "good old days" and for us to not repeat past mistakes.
Throughout the entire book all I could think of is how do I pre-order this book to make sure I include it in my library? However, the ending left me a bit confused, which is why it is a four star book for me and not a five.
I had two issues with the ending. One, there is a revelation about two of the characters that does not align with everything we learned about them throughout the entire story. Perhaps I missed something? Two, I felt as though the ending was paced too quickly (in comparison to the rest of the story) and so intense that I had to read it twice to make sure I was understanding it.
Overall this is really a great book and I will look into Mr. Lamprell's other works because this was my first experience with his writing.
A huge thank you for my e-ARC, which was provided by the publisher and the author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Would I read it again?
Maybe
Would I recommend it?
Yes. Please read it! Go out and buy the book!
Is it a permanent addition to my library?
Yes
There are situations in the story that touch on topics of that time that make us cringe today. A good reminder of how things once were and should never be again. A lesson for those who get nostalgic about those times being the "good old days" and for us to not repeat past mistakes.
Throughout the entire book all I could think of is how do I pre-order this book to make sure I include it in my library? However, the ending left me a bit confused, which is why it is a four star book for me and not a five.
I had two issues with the ending. One, there is a revelation about two of the characters that does not align with everything we learned about them throughout the entire story. Perhaps I missed something? Two, I felt as though the ending was paced too quickly (in comparison to the rest of the story) and so intense that I had to read it twice to make sure I was understanding it.
Overall this is really a great book and I will look into Mr. Lamprell's other works because this was my first experience with his writing.
A huge thank you for my e-ARC, which was provided by the publisher and the author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Would I read it again?
Maybe
Would I recommend it?
Yes. Please read it! Go out and buy the book!
Is it a permanent addition to my library?
Yes
March 8, 2022
I loved this book. Holy hell, did I love this book.
Both of the characters felt real, although I would have liked to have a bit more insight into Frankie and her thoughts. There were a few times that I felt frustrated with both Edith and Frankie's inability to discuss things, but I think it's probably pretty accurate to the time period. I loved the connection of major world events to Edith's life, and it was fascinating to see how much both women changed over the course of a decade.
Overall, just a completely lovely, heartfelt book that really stuck with me. There's an event towards the end that actually made me gasp, and it's really affecting. I loved this book! Fans of historical fiction and books like The Wednesday Sisters will enjoy this a lot, I think.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC ebook.
Both of the characters felt real, although I would have liked to have a bit more insight into Frankie and her thoughts. There were a few times that I felt frustrated with both Edith and Frankie's inability to discuss things, but I think it's probably pretty accurate to the time period. I loved the connection of major world events to Edith's life, and it was fascinating to see how much both women changed over the course of a decade.
Overall, just a completely lovely, heartfelt book that really stuck with me. There's an event towards the end that actually made me gasp, and it's really affecting. I loved this book! Fans of historical fiction and books like The Wednesday Sisters will enjoy this a lot, I think.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC ebook.
February 11, 2022
Lamprell has an acute understanding of how setting influences the plot and characters. His exemplary portrayal of 1960s America helps readers understand the underlying themes of female friendship and liberation in addition to those of unconditional sacrifice and the power of pulling together. He has used a sense of place to his advantage and made use of time in showcasing these prevalent issues through the eyes of his characters. The 1960s truly was a decade that changed a nation.
“Charlie and Edith moved into their new house on the same day that Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit the Earth.”
Lamprell gives readers a head start in understanding his plot. They immediately know the cultural and social environment and can predict the dialogue and mood. When Edith announces that “she and Yuri were launching into new frontiers,” readers know what trajectory to expect. The narrative was filled with perfectly placed metaphors and actions that elicited smirks and giggles.
Frankie Haymen and Edith Devine will warm your heart. They were so authentic. I also loved Auntie Pearl! That poor lady was blamed for the mileage on the odometer and I laughed when Frankie and Edith had to “put the car on blocks and run it in reverse.” Ralph, Frankie’s irritating and narrow-minded husband, was representative of the time and was a good measuring stick for me to compare to the liberal views my husband possesses. How far we’ve come in 60 years! Looking through the microscope at the 1960s from our generation of equal opportunity and work-life-balance to see the reality of today’s baby boomers was a good exercise.
Lamprell takes readers on a journey with Frankie and Edith through the 1960s and shows how the world’s great events seem to be mirrored in the lives of the two women. Readers will be privy to the secrets both women keep and the very real struggle they face in being caught up in a world that’s rapidly changing. You’ll laugh and cry as you read about Frankie and Edith trying to stretch their wings and become independent in a world that wants to clip those wings. It’s a phenomenal book. The day in 1969 when humans step out onto the surface of the moon mirrors a fateful conclusion for Edith and Frankie.
I was gifted this advance copy by Mark Lamprell, Text Publishing, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
“Charlie and Edith moved into their new house on the same day that Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit the Earth.”
Lamprell gives readers a head start in understanding his plot. They immediately know the cultural and social environment and can predict the dialogue and mood. When Edith announces that “she and Yuri were launching into new frontiers,” readers know what trajectory to expect. The narrative was filled with perfectly placed metaphors and actions that elicited smirks and giggles.
Frankie Haymen and Edith Devine will warm your heart. They were so authentic. I also loved Auntie Pearl! That poor lady was blamed for the mileage on the odometer and I laughed when Frankie and Edith had to “put the car on blocks and run it in reverse.” Ralph, Frankie’s irritating and narrow-minded husband, was representative of the time and was a good measuring stick for me to compare to the liberal views my husband possesses. How far we’ve come in 60 years! Looking through the microscope at the 1960s from our generation of equal opportunity and work-life-balance to see the reality of today’s baby boomers was a good exercise.
Lamprell takes readers on a journey with Frankie and Edith through the 1960s and shows how the world’s great events seem to be mirrored in the lives of the two women. Readers will be privy to the secrets both women keep and the very real struggle they face in being caught up in a world that’s rapidly changing. You’ll laugh and cry as you read about Frankie and Edith trying to stretch their wings and become independent in a world that wants to clip those wings. It’s a phenomenal book. The day in 1969 when humans step out onto the surface of the moon mirrors a fateful conclusion for Edith and Frankie.
I was gifted this advance copy by Mark Lamprell, Text Publishing, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
February 28, 2022
The Secret Wife is set in Australia during the 60s but has many historical American milestones that kept throwing me off while reading the book. I almost felt as if the story was taking place in the United States. I was somewhat confused at first because I couldn't figure out where exactly the story was set, was it England? The United States? But finally there were some clues that pointed to Australia. Once I got past this uncertainty I did find the storyline interesting and was swept up in the present day and flashbacks that weaved the story together.
This was an interesting glimpse into the lives of two women and the challenges and importance of friendship, love and family. Each of the women are unique in their own way and their different personalities seemed to fit well with how life for many women during this time of change in the 60's must have been. Are you satisfied with being a stay at home mom or do you dream of a career and enter into the workforce as a married woman with children?
Although I enjoyed the book I was surprised by the ending and I didn't feel that it gave enough closure to the story. I would recommend it if you want a glimpse of life from the 60s. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!
This was an interesting glimpse into the lives of two women and the challenges and importance of friendship, love and family. Each of the women are unique in their own way and their different personalities seemed to fit well with how life for many women during this time of change in the 60's must have been. Are you satisfied with being a stay at home mom or do you dream of a career and enter into the workforce as a married woman with children?
Although I enjoyed the book I was surprised by the ending and I didn't feel that it gave enough closure to the story. I would recommend it if you want a glimpse of life from the 60s. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!
February 22, 2022
This was an interesting read about women's lives and friendships in the 60s in Australia. (It's not the US, as I was expecting based on a review I read). I was so confused at first because I couldn't figure out why the characters used mum instead of mom and that the men bonded over cricket, haha. There were enough geographical clues to point to Australia, and then finally in the second half, it was actually mentioned. Not a big deal, but I started the book thinking it was about 1960s culture in America. Very similar, of course, but it is probably a bit different.
Anyway. Let's start with the main character, Edie. She was annoying at times, and definitely a product of the 50s and 60s mindset in terms of gender roles. She's also very religious and anti-birth control. New next-door neighbor Frankie comes across as positively free-spirited in comparison. Even with Edie's social anxiety, the two become fast friends as Frankie starts to work outside the home in secret since her husband Ralph is old fashioned (even for the 60s). Edith also grows and changes her mind about some things as the book goes, which I appreciated.
The ending was unsatisfying, and I couldn't help but wonder what the author was trying to say? I found it all a little depressing that two women formed a friendship based on hiding a job from one of the husbands. I also cant help but think a story from Frankie's POV would have been a bit more interesting..
That said, I did appreciate it, and would recommend it if you want a slice of life from the 60s (don under, haha). Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!
Anyway. Let's start with the main character, Edie. She was annoying at times, and definitely a product of the 50s and 60s mindset in terms of gender roles. She's also very religious and anti-birth control. New next-door neighbor Frankie comes across as positively free-spirited in comparison. Even with Edie's social anxiety, the two become fast friends as Frankie starts to work outside the home in secret since her husband Ralph is old fashioned (even for the 60s). Edith also grows and changes her mind about some things as the book goes, which I appreciated.
The ending was unsatisfying, and I couldn't help but wonder what the author was trying to say? I found it all a little depressing that two women formed a friendship based on hiding a job from one of the husbands. I also cant help but think a story from Frankie's POV would have been a bit more interesting..
That said, I did appreciate it, and would recommend it if you want a slice of life from the 60s (don under, haha). Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!
March 12, 2022
I chose this book strictly by the cover. I grew up in the 1960s and the cover was just screaming this decade.
The story is a snapshot of the decade. It is the story of 2 women who have just moved into a brand new subdivision and become fast friends. The woman's place was in the home, looking after the home and the family. There are many references to news events of the time (Cuban Missile Crisis, Kennedy assassination, death of the pope and election of a new one, Beatles, Vietnam etc).
It is the dawn of the Women's Lib. While Edith is very interested in equality for women and pushes her daughters to do what they want, she is content to be a stay-at-home Mom. Conversely, Frankie ventures out into the business world. Frankie does so against her husband's wishes and in secret. Her husband believes the man controls the house and the wife should stay at home.
It is a journey through the decade. It is about friendship. It illustrates how much things have changed for women, yet how much more change is needed.
But, I think the book jumped the shark* at the point where Frankie’s business became hugely successful yet was a secret from her husband.
For those who are not familiar with the phrase “jumped the shark”: Something is said to have "jumped the shark" when it has reached its peak and begun a downhill slide to mediocrity.
~Urban Dictionary
The ending seemed to come out of nowhere. I was quite surprised.
For the most part, The Secret Wife was a fun read, an easy and quick read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an Advance Readers Copy.
September 14, 2022
It’s 1961 in Australia and Charlie and Edith Devine and their two daughters are moving into their brand new house in a new suburban estate. While Edith chose grey for their exterior house colour, across the street from them is a bright yellow house and Edith is sure they are going to be friends. While Edith is anxious and socially awkward, her new neighbour Frankie is very glamorous and forthright, but they do nevertheless soon become friends. However, Frankie’s controlling husband Ralph expects her to be the perfect wife and housekeeper and despite having worked as a mechanic during the war, refuses to let her to get a job now that their children are older. Together Edith and Frankie hatch up a plan that allows Frankie to find a job that she can keep secret from her husband.
This is a delightful tale of a very special friendship between these two quirky, spirited women. Edith strongly believes that momentous world events foreshadow major events in her life and so the novel is peppered with historical events that occur during the 1960s, from Yuri Gagarin’s first flight into space to the moon landing in 1969. These events as well as the descriptions of family life and the role expected of women very much project the feel of the era.
The novel is beautifully told and often humorous as the two women navigate the complexities of keeping Frankie’s double life from her husband while also watching their children deal with the issues of growing up. However, along the way, we also learn of the difficulties Edith has endured during her life and there also moments of devastating heartbreak in the novel. It’s a wonderful read that I heartily recommend.
This is a delightful tale of a very special friendship between these two quirky, spirited women. Edith strongly believes that momentous world events foreshadow major events in her life and so the novel is peppered with historical events that occur during the 1960s, from Yuri Gagarin’s first flight into space to the moon landing in 1969. These events as well as the descriptions of family life and the role expected of women very much project the feel of the era.
The novel is beautifully told and often humorous as the two women navigate the complexities of keeping Frankie’s double life from her husband while also watching their children deal with the issues of growing up. However, along the way, we also learn of the difficulties Edith has endured during her life and there also moments of devastating heartbreak in the novel. It’s a wonderful read that I heartily recommend.
March 16, 2022
I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to. The writing flows in one of those ways where you just forget how long you have been reading - even though the story is more about the relationships and the day to day lives of these women rather than a whole lot happening plot-wise. Not usually being a fan of period pieces, again I was surprised by how much I appreciated the 60’s setting. Lamprell has this way of making you feel like you are re-experiencing the history you read about in school as if in real-time, taking you through the major global events of the time whilst giving you an understanding of what it must have felt like to live through such a transformative time. I will say going in, I expected to hear more about the business side of Frankie’s entrepreneurial rise, which felt a little hard to believe and most in the background. The ending itself feels like it kind of comes out of nowhere, although it does end up making sense. I just wish I would have gotten a bit more about the nature of the relationship between Frankie and Charlie which I felt completely blindsided by.
*** I received an early complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
*** I received an early complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
abandoned
March 8, 2022This book could have been a fascinating look into the interior lives of women and an exploration of friendship and 1960's sexual politics. I don't know because I had to abandon it about 50 pages in, due to one of the most offensive, disrespectful, anti-woman scenes I've yet encountered in fiction.
The author included an extremely graphic, completely unnecessary scene in which one of the two main characters experiences . The scene did little to advance the plot; it was a callous attempt by a male author to emotionally manipulate his reader, with zero consideration of the trauma his words could produce. It made me distrust the author, and I couldn't continue reading the book, never knowing when he would lob another 'plot grenade' at me.
For the record, I've never experienced . I can't imagine what how terrible it would be for someone who had to stumble across this scene. While the reader is led to expect that it will happen, there is no warning that we will 'see' it and in such a graphic fashion. This is not acceptable. The publisher should never have allowed this to be included.
The author included an extremely graphic, completely unnecessary scene in which one of the two main characters experiences . The scene did little to advance the plot; it was a callous attempt by a male author to emotionally manipulate his reader, with zero consideration of the trauma his words could produce. It made me distrust the author, and I couldn't continue reading the book, never knowing when he would lob another 'plot grenade' at me.
For the record, I've never experienced . I can't imagine what how terrible it would be for someone who had to stumble across this scene. While the reader is led to expect that it will happen, there is no warning that we will 'see' it and in such a graphic fashion. This is not acceptable. The publisher should never have allowed this to be included.
March 10, 2022
I was hooked by the cover, as I absolutely love a novel set in the 1960s. And The Secret Wife really delivered on setting. The events of the decade are wonderfully woven throughout the narrative and help to show how much the world (and the two main characters) changed in such a short time.
I enjoyed this book, but the pacing was slightly out. The first few years of the women’s friendship is explored in beautiful detail, as we see Edith come out of her shell, and Frankie take advantage of the new opportunities open to women. However, the last third seemed rushed. Too much time was covered, and the ending hit me out of nowhere, without providing closure to the character’s stories.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves modern history, as well as those who enjoy the development of characters over a longer period of time.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoyed this book, but the pacing was slightly out. The first few years of the women’s friendship is explored in beautiful detail, as we see Edith come out of her shell, and Frankie take advantage of the new opportunities open to women. However, the last third seemed rushed. Too much time was covered, and the ending hit me out of nowhere, without providing closure to the character’s stories.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves modern history, as well as those who enjoy the development of characters over a longer period of time.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
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