Michael and Juliet decide to take their kids and go sailing for a year. In the beginning it seems as though they make the decision to help with Juliet’s depression. But as the story unfolds there are clearly many different reasons.

The book is set up in a very interesting way - it is switching between Michael’s logbook and Juliet’s commentary or thoughts from after the trip. The story was slowly unfolding and I felt like I am on the edge of the seat the whole way through.

The premise of the book was something completely different. I think it is incredible how the book is both quiet and enthralling at the same time. You read about how they met, how the problems in the marriage started and what drove Juliet into depression. At the same time they are on the boat in real time, struggling with the sea and sometimes with each other. But also, you see how they make it work on the boat, how they become closer as a family and how their kids enjoy the adventure. Another thing that made the book amazing was the strong sense of place - while they were sailing through the storm I felt as though I was there with them. Beautiful book. 4.5/5

BOOK REVIEW: Sea Wife by Amity Gaige (2020)

There comes a time in every long term relationship when you wonder: is this all there is? 9-5 job, taking care of children or pets, never-ending home admin. Oh and some leisure time, if you’re lucky and there’s no Covid. The wondering spouse may suggest a big change: moving house? Having another child? Travelling around the world? Or divorce? Some would see this as a restless midlife crisis, while others as an expression of an open mind. These ‘what ifs’ appear in both solid and broken marriages.

Amity Gaige’s ‘Sea Wife’ takes this ‘what if’ question and runs with it. Juliet & Michael are long married, with two young children, struggling with the everydayness of life. On top of that, Juliet is depressed, struggling with looking after the children, with a background of dark childhood memories, and a PhD on Anne Sexton that doesn’t get off the ground. She hates the word depression, preferring to think of as being ‘faithful to her problems’. Michael struggles to understand her & help her in the way she needs.

Michael & Juliet are fundamentally different: he’s a Trump-voting republican, rejecting weakness, thinking of life in individualistic terms. She’s a lover of poetry, a frustrated stay at home mum with an unused education. The marriage is creaking at the seams.

Out of the blue, Michael suggests the family should spend some time living on a boat. Surprisingly, Juliet agrees. Is this an escape? Or a solution? The family sets off from the coast of Panama, sailing towards the Caribbean.

This is the story of the family’s life on the boat, with a parallel narrative of what came before & after. I adore the sea, but I’m mindful of its dangers too. The claustrophobia of being on a sailboat without seeing land on the horizon is, for me, the stuff of nightmares, but I would see how others would love it. Gaige beautifully portrays that claustrophobic but also dizzyingly freeing atmosphere of living on a boat. There is the (equally) claustrophobic yet freeing atmosphere of a long marriage. This is a page-turner, tackling fascinating themes in a convincing whole.

Thanks to #netgalley & fleetreads for my copies of this.

This is told from two perspectives, Juliet's first person narrative after the journey and Michael's captain's log. This style of writing took some time to get used to at first, but was a clever way to explain the events and impacts on the family during their adventure.
The whole story is really atmospheric, and gives some lovely details of their sailing conditions and how the family react to their new life and eachother.
The slow pace allowed me to really be drawn in to the story and I was gripped as the tension built towards the end.

Sea Wife tells the story of the Partlow family who decide to take a year out, buy a 44-foot sailboat and go on a sailing trip round the Caribbean. They plan a route from Panama to Cartagena in Colombia and then on to Caracas in Venezuela. In a hint of things to come, we learn that Michael has renamed the boat from Windy Monday to Juliet.

The couple met in their senior year at Kenyon College in Ohio. They now live in Connecticut. Juliet is studying for a PhD in American literature at Boston College and is a poet with no experience of sailing. Michael works for an insurance company. He has fond memories of sailing Lake Erie in North America on a boat with his father. Their daughter, Sybil, is seven years old and their son, George (Doodle), is two and a half.

The story is told from Julie’s viewpoint after they’ve returned home from the trip, interspersed with extracts from Michael’s captain’s log, which he wrote on their voyage.

They head to Panama in September, in the middle of the rainy season, to collect the yacht and it takes them several months before she is repaired and repainted, and they’re organised and ready to set sail. On their route across the ocean, they plan to hug the coast of Central and South America but also visit several small islands in the San Blas archipelago in Panama.

Their marriage is struggling but the trip breathes new life into it and the children are also much happier, especially when they make friends with the children of other sailors.

Throughout the novel, there’s a sense of foreboding and fear – being on a boat in the middle of the ocean sounds rather frightening, like you’re only one swell or storm away from things ending in disaster. Life at sea is carefree and beautiful but also filled with unexpected dangers. The solitude is lovely but the isolation and remoteness can also cause problems.

The novel includes the themes of depression, abuse and marriage: Juliet suffers from postnatal depression, which is triggered by thoughts of the sexual abuse from her childhood. Her marriage to Michael suffers at times as she struggles to overcome her ‘ugly angels’.

Sea Wife is a thoughtful and reflective novel, and also very emotional and poignant. It was an intense read at times – the nature of living on a boat is very claustrophobic and intimate, with no escape from each other.

It contained some nautical terms and it was interesting to search online and discover their meanings. I’m not normally a fan of maps but, in this case, I would have loved to have seen a map of the places they visited so that I could picture their route!

Overall, I really enjoyed this cleverly layered book; it’s written in an usual style, which builds up the story and what happened, a piece at a time. It’s beautifully descriptive and is a fascinating analysis of a marriage and ruminating about life, while sailing the harsh seas. There were also other elements like Michael’s acquaintance, Harry Borawski, and Juliet’s background, which helped to add a bit of intrigue and mystery to the storyline. I’m tempted to read it again at some point, just to pick out all the subtle hints to the future that I missed first time round. I’m also keen to read another of the author’s books – I’ll definitely be checking one out soon!

I really enjoyed this novel. At first the premise didn't appeal to me but Lauren Groff said lovely things about it and I was convinced.

A couple decide to spend a year on a yacht with their two young children. This in itself seems like madness to me. The story unfolds in dual narration - the wife's point of view and the ship board journal kept by her husband.

Even though we know basically what's happened early on we don't have the full picture. And even though we know this still manages to ratchet up the tension.

I loved the dual narration and what the author managed to convey with this technique.

The ending could have been slightly tighter I think but I definitely want to read more from this author.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I first heard about Sea Wife because it was a Modern Mrs Darcy Summer Reading Guide pick for 2020. Sea Wife - described by Anne as being 'a harrowing portrait of a boat in peril and a marriage in crisis' - sounded deeply intriguing so I jumped at the chance to be part of the Blog Tour for the book.

Sea Wife tells the story of Michael and Juliet, their two children George and Sybil, and their journey into the unknown as they set sail about the sailboat 'Juliet' for a life of freedom, adventure and renewal. Alternating between Juliet's present-day perspective - in which it is clear that something has gone horribly wrong on the voyage - and Michael's log of their time afloat, the novel is slow but exquisitely written account of their journey and its consequences.

Sea Wife is a meditative novel. The book moves gracefully and often focuses on the minutiae of Michael and Juliet's lives. Small details are bought into glaring focus and, especially in Juliet's sections, turned over and examined with care and attention. Despite this (or maybe because of it), the story has a gripping quality.

From the opening pages, it is clear that something has gone wrong with their adventure. Sitting on the floor in the safety of her tiny closet, Juliet is clearly alone and struggling. Her This contrasts sharply with Michael's exuberant log entries - his joy at finding the boat, his hopes that this journey into the unknown might rescue his ailing marriage and help his depressed wife rediscover her joy. This disparity gives the novel the tautness of a thriller, a quality that belies the stately flow of Gaige's lyrical prose.

Sea Wife also offers an intimate portrait of a marriage in crisis. As one character tells Juliet early on in the novel, ' Marriages have failure points, just like boats [...] if you would rather not know the failure points, [...] do not go sailing'. Sailing into the unknown brings Michael, Juliet and their children closer together but it also reveals the tiny splinters in their family unit and, as their journey progresses, these splinters become fractures that threaten to tear the family apart.

What was interesting about reading Sea Wife is that whilst I didn't especially like either Michael or Juliet, I was compelled to read about them nonetheless. Unlikable characters are usually a hard pass for me but Michael and Juliet, for all their flaws (and they do, both of them, have many) were relatable. Their very ordinariness - the mundane nature of their flaws - makes them compelling, and allowed me to develop sympathy for them both in spite of their mistakes. Juliet, in particular, really grew on me as the novel developed - by the end, I was desperate for her to forgive herself for past errors and head into the future with the confidence that she deserved.

Sea Wife was not quite the fast-paced slice of domestic noir that I was expecting when I picked it up however it is stronger for it. The lyricism and attention to detail make the novel stand out amidst the veritable sea of domestic thrillers, whilst the setting provides a unique way of examining both personal isolation and marital/familial tension. Sea Wife may be slightly too sedate for some readers but for those who are prepared to wallow in the detail, this is a smart and sophisticated summer read.

Sea Wife follows the story of Juliet and Michael Partlow, who decide to try to escape their problems by packing up and setting sail for a life on the ocean. With their two young children in tow, their voyage is far from plain sailing, and dark clouds eventually begin to appear on the horizon.

The book alternates perspective frequently between Juliet and Michael within chapters, giving a sense of an ongoing dialogue between the married couple despite the temporal difference. Michael's contributions come in the form of ship logs, writing of his experiences on the voyage as a journal. Juliet's perspective, meanwhile, is set months after the yacht returns to their US home. This adds an exciting, almost thriller-like dimension to the story, as Juliet's narrative suggests that things are not necessarily as they seem.

One of the great strengths of this book is its depiction of depression, a key theme throughout. Gaige writes about mental illness starkly and honestly, but always with understanding and care. The trials of Juliet as she navigates life with two young children and often debilitating post-natal depression, as well as her husband's well-meaning but ultimately ineffectual handling of this, is powerful and compelling, and not something I've read about often.

Despite being a fairly short book, there are some issues with pacing, and the ending didn't fully satisfy my anticipation, falling short on the closure of some of the more gripping aspects of the narrative.

A good read full of escapism - perfect for (pretending to be on) summer holidays.

I was fortunate to receive a copy of this book to read from NetGalley.

I didn't think it was my usual genre, although I'm still not sure how to classify it! It is definitely a book I will need to read again because I feel I probably missed some of the more nuanced writing first time around. It also took me some time to get used to the nautical knowledge, having none at all, and also the structure with the ship's log.

Juliet and Michael are living in surburban America, Juliet trying to obtain a PhD in poetry. Michael has a longing for the open seas and eventually persuades (breaks down) Juliet to try for a year. How he obtains the finance and the boat leads to some complications later on. The book is told mainly from Juliet's perspective in the present, while reading back through the ship's log Michael kept while they were are sea. Its obvious early on a tragedy has befallen the family but details are gradually revealed. The book has quite a melancholic feel. Juliet suffers from Depression, the reasons for which are also revealed gradually. This quote stood out to me: "We're just a hyphen between our parents and our kids. That's what you learn in middle age."

This is definitely a book you have to keep the focus with and perhaps also read more than once?

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5

The Partlows are taking a year out to travel by sailing boat around Central America and the Caribbean. Sounds like a dream come true? Yes, for Michael who loved sailing with his dad on a lake as a child and is hating his humdrum work. No, for Julie, who has no sailing experience and is anxious and depressed. For the children, Sybil and George, it's a great adventure.
You know how this book ends quite soon into it so this book is about the journey and how it enfolds. The story rotates between narrative mainly from Julie's perspective, with the yacht's logbook written like a diary by Michael.
Having experience of this lifestyle, I think that this is depicted accurately and captures a flavour of the reality of living on board. I loved Sybil best, her attitude to her life and family and hoped she would pull through the challenges of her family life

I really enjoyed ‘Sea Wife’ by Amity Gaige. I read it in a couple of days as I didn’t wan to put it down. Although the story wasn’t really a mystery thriller it’s language drive me forwards to want to get to the end. As a story about marriage it was exquisite but I do wish I understood more about sailing as I found the terms used confusing.

I was completely gripped by this book. I read it in a day, which is almost unheard of for me (since having kids). It's a thrilling read, but also has wise (and sad) things to say about relationships and parenting. I loved it.

I really enjoyed this.

The story takes us on a sailing trip - Michael wants to pack his job in and sail round the world; eventually he persuades his wife Juliet and they are soon sailing round the Caribbean with their two small children.

For Juliet, this is so much more than just a journey by boat - it's a journey through life, exploring her depression, her relationships, and gives her new skills. Yet just as a new future is forming everything is cut short.

The story is told after the journey has ended, through Juliet's words and the log of Michael while on board the boat. Beautiful, emotive and evocative writing, this was a treat to read.

This is a beautifully written book that explores the relationship between a husband and wife during a journey at sea. Having decided to pick up sticks and take their 2 young children with them, we are party to their adventure as they explore places around the Caribbean and Panama. The story is told from the wife's side but the ships log is the husbands story. It is not aggressive or negative, there is no mystery to be solved, but it is a very poignant story about a relationship, pre, during and post journey.

This is a strange and well-written book. It looks like there will be a mystery, but it's not so much of a mystery actually. It's about the hardness of marriage and going through difficulties.

It's beautifully written and emotional.
Thanks a lot to NG and the publisher for this copy.

This heartfelt story relays a whole host of emotions including post natal depression which can be devastating for any new mother. We follow Juliet and her family literally on a sea of exploration for them all. If you want an emotional and fulfilling book then this is for you although I would have preferred a different ending if I'm honest. Nevertheless an interesting read for quiet, restful moments.

I loved this book and did not want it to end. It was written in a very different style to any other book that I have read. There book layout was not in chapters but using one person’s journal alongside present tense events. Meanwhile the plot was unfolding. I really appreciated reading a book that did not skip too much back and forward in time zones. The book was about relationships but in a very subtle way. I enjoyed reading about the voyage and the descriptions of the places visited. Then there was a twist to the story that was quite interesting, and I did not expect. I would highly recommend this book especially if you also long to sail or just be by water like me.

This is a novel about sailing and the politics of marriage. It's immediately propulsive, and there is a central mystery set out clearly in the opening pages which initially persuaded me I was reading a very well-written thriller. My mistake: the mystery eventually turns out not to be so mysterious after all. But by that point I was so in thrall to the novel’s wonderful assurance that I didn’t much care. There is so much to enjoy here: the precision of Gaige’s writing, the rich variety of voices and places she conjures up, and the questions she asks of the reader.
Writing of this quality is such a treat. A fierce, strange and rather beautiful book.

The Sea Wife is told from two different perspectives of man and wife, and switches throughout the book. It’s a tale of a family with two young children who abandoned their lives in exchange for travelling the seas. It is a moving account of the challenges of post natal depression, adaptation, mystery and tragedy. An intriguing and different read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This a really moving book. There are so many layers to this story that I think it will mean different things to different people. It is really beautifully and sympathetically written. I love the detail of the lives of the family at sea but also the relationship between Michael and Juliet and the perceptiveness of both their feelings and emotions. The feelings of depression and parenthood are very real and relatable. Juliet’s depression is perfectly portrayed in the way that it is there in the telling of the story in the shadows just lurking but it’s never the actual story.

It is a very unique story perfectly told through the first person narrative of Juliet and Michael’s captain’s log revealing the details of their journey with their two kids from land to sea on a forty four foot sailboat and its life changing events.

Sea Wife by Amity Gaige was such an unexpected novel, and it delighted in every way!

It is told from two perspectives: Juliet in the present tense, and Michael through his captain’s log. It captures the family’s life at sea for almost a year, their relationships prior to setting sail, and how they grew and developed as people through their experiences sailing the Caribbean.

The descriptions of their life at sea are beautifully written. Themes focus on marriage, depression, parenting and abuse and the reflections of these issues felt sincere and well developed.

It’s a mystery story, engagingly told and I loved it!

#netgalley #seawife #amitygaige #littlebrownbookgroup