The Wives by Lauren Weisberger | Book Review

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The Wives by Lauren Weisberger

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication date: 12th July 2018

Blurb:

When Karolina Hartwell is arrested driving her son home, the headlines don’t tell the full story. It seems nothing will stand in the way of her husband Graham’s political ambition – not even his wife.

Miriam Kagan is convinced her husband Paul is hiding something. But if she digs too deeply, she’s afraid of what might tumble out of the closet.

Emily Charlton is new to Greenwich, but she soon discovers this is a small town built on big lies. And sometimes it takes an outsider to draw them out...

Review:

The Wives is the third book in the Devil Wears Prada series. I'll admit, I haven't read the first two books (although I've seen the movie) but this book does work as a standalone.

It follows three women over the course of a year. Emily Charlton, former assistant to Miranda Priestley at Runway magazine who is now a publicity manager for celebrities, and is happily married to Miles. Miriam Kagan, Emily's best friend who now lives in the suburbs with her husband Paul (who she suspects is cheating on her) and their three children, and Miriam's friend Karolina Hartwell, former model and Victoria's Secret angel who is married to Senator Graham Hartwell.

Their three lives intertwine when Karolina is arrested for supposedly drink-driving with her stepson and his friends in the car. She is adamant she was sober and was mistreated by the authorities. Her life falls apart around her and Miriam introduces her to Emily. Her estranged husband Graham is defaming her in public and she needs Emily's help to fight back.

I didn't find the plot particularly meaty but I liked the setting and background to these characters and I felt like I cared about them enough to continue reading. They are funny together and I loved the friendship they had developed as trio by the end.

Unfaithful by J. L. Butler | Book Review

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Unfaithful by J. L. Butler 

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication date: 6th January 2022

Blurb:

A FATAL attraction…

Rachel Reeves has it all. The perfect family, a rich husband, and a gorgeous home. But when her only child flies the nest, Rachel feels lost – and succumbs to a mind-blowing one-night stand.

With a DEADLY twist…

Instantly regretting her infidelity, Rachel cuts ties with Chris. But he won’t let her go that easily. She erases him from her life – until a text changes everything.

And an UNFORGETTABLE end…

Someone knows what she did.

And they’re ready to destroy her entire life because of it.

Review:

Rachel Reeves is a stay at home mum, married to Robert who is the CEO of a property firm and they have a daughter called Dylan who is heading off to university. Having an empty nest prompts Rachel to ask her old friend Serena about the possibility of a job opportunity in book publishing, where she worked all those years ago, before becoming a mother.

After securing a job and attending a party, Rachel bumps into Chris, her old flame from her university days. They spend the night together and even though Rachel says she doesn't want to see Chris again, her whole life begins to unravel. Someone knows what she's done and they are following her and sending her messages. 

This book started really strongly and I was intrigued by where it was going to go, but it sort of just missed the mark for me. Maybe I've just read too many thrillers! 

The story was very fleshed out and there was a lot of background to characters that could have been reduced down a bit. I love a twist but for me there were probably too many red herrings. It is a slow paced book which I struggle with too. I have given it an extra star solely for the ending because I was genuinely surprised by it.

Not my favourite, but not the worst either!

Seven Days In June by Tia Williams | Book Review

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Seven Days In June by Tia Williams 

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Quercus

Publication Date: 1st June 2021

Blurb:

Seven days to fall in love, fifteen years to forget, and seven days to get it all back again...

Eva Mercy is a single mother and bestselling erotica writer who is feeling pressed from all sides. Shane Hall is a reclusive, enigmatic, award-winning novelist, who, to everyone's surprise, shows up unexpectedly in New York.

When Shane and Eva meet at a literary event, sparks fly, raising not only their buried traumas, but also the eyebrows of the Black literati. What no one knows is that fifteen years earlier, teenage Eva and Shane spent one crazy, torrid week madly in love. While they may be pretending not to know each other, they can't deny their chemistry - or the fact that they've been secretly writing to each other in their books through the years.

Over the next seven days, amidst a steamy Brooklyn summer, Eva and Shane reconnect - but Eva's wary of the man who broke her heart, and wants him out of the city so her life can return to normal. Before Shane disappears though, she needs a few questions answered...

Review:

What a book to start the year with and thank you Tia Williams for making me feel every emotion.

Firstly, the hilarious prologue drew me in. I just knew this writing style would be for me. 

32-year-old Eva Mercy, previously known as Genevieve Mercier, is a best-selling erotica writer famous for her Cursed series. She is also mother to her 12-year-old daughter Audre who she shares with ex-husband, Troy. 

Shane Hall is a now sober author who is struggling to write after giving up his vices. He keeps himself to himself in the author world and spends his time teaching English and mentoring young teens at schools in "bad" (for want of a better word!) areas.  

Seven Days In June delves into their backgrounds both together and apart. As seventeen year olds they spent a week together but they were both very troubled. They were bad for each other. Meeting now is the first time they have seen each other in fifteen years and their lives have changed drastically. 

Believe me when I say that this book had a grip on my heart. I read the entire thing in a day as I was so invested in their relationship.

There is a wonderful focus on Black authors and stories in the publishing industry and I enjoyed reading about Eva's struggles with her illness. It was new to have a main character like this.

I must add trigger warnings for self-harm and drug abuse. 

Seven Days In June is a beauty and my heart both aches and is full at the same time.