Title: The Wives (published in the US as When Life Gives You Lululemons)

Author: Lauren Weisberger

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Harper Collins UK

Publication Date: 12th July 2019

Cover:

Summary:

Perfect marriages.Perfect neighbours.Perfect lies.
Everyone is guarding a secret in this picture-perfect town.

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:

I never read The Devil Wears Prada but it is one of my favourite films so when I noticed that The Wives features Emily Charlton, Miranda Priestly’s former first assistant, I was really interested to see what it would be like. First off I have to say that I had a lot of fun reading The Wives, there is something I find so fascinating about scandal in the suburbs plus I love books where women fight for and support one another. Weisberger has an undeniable wit and clever sharpness to her writing which makes for such a satisfying read. I loved all three of the women this books revolves around. Karolina is genuine and loving, Miriam is so relatable and intelligent and Emily herself is admittedly catty and biting but also funny and loyal. The strength of The Wives lies in the friendship between these women and the dialogue between them is perfectly on point.

Saying all that, I did have an issue with this book. I realise it is supposed to be lighthearted and full of scandal/drama which was great but there is also a relatively constant level of fat-phobia here. There seems to be a general consensus in The Wives that thin = good, beautiful and ‘right’ and fat = lazy and grotesque. I hate that attitude and I have to be honest and say that the opinion demonstrated in this book that you must be thin to be worthy is one I find damaging and superficial. I don’t want to get all preachy or overanalyse it too much, nor do I want to put anyone off reading it, but I mention it purely because it really was on my mind quite a lot whilst reading.

Despite that one issue, I still definitely recommend the book! I really did find it a fun and feisty read full of juicy secrets and some great female friendships. I will certainly be reading the next instalment if Weisberger writes it because yes, Emily is probably not the most moral or sensitive character in the world, but honestly that just makes her all the more fun to read about!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I received this e-arc through Netgalley. My review is my own honest opinion. 

The Wives by Lauren Weisberger

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