I received this book "The Wife's Choice" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. Kinda predictible story but overall a good read.

Alys was married to Tom when he was involved in a serious accident and he subsequently didn't want to have anything to do with her and they divorced. Twenty years later she is married to Hugh with a daughter, Esme, who is just about to start a new job in an upmarket restaurant when Alys makes a surprising discovery.
To be honest this was sitting in my TBR list for a couple of weeks whilst I was reading stories with a lighter subject matter. When I eventually started reading it I realised that I had been missing an excellent book. I found myself engrossed in the story, hoping that Alys would find herself a new career more in line with her original dreams and also sort her marriage out with her controlling husband. I eventually finished the book at midnight the day I started it, definitely recommended.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

I received a free ebook of this title from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

The Wife’s Choice revolves around the choice to tell the truth or to continue to lie, a lie of omission but still really a lie. To choose to continue to live a life of safety and convenience by going along with all her husband Hugh’s decisions or to stand up to him and make her own choices. To choose to pursue a dream long put aside of a career in textiles versus staying home safely, perhaps picking up some dressmaking work here or there. This is what faces Alys almost right from the first few pages of the novel.

As the book unfolds, the reader is taken with Alys as she faces choices and the consequences for choices she has made or simply not made but just allowed to happen by default. Losing her job and having someone from her past reenter her life serve as a catalyst to force Alys to reexamine the path she is on and decide if it is right for her.

Alys is a very relatable character and as a reader you do find yourself rooting for her along the way. Her “secret” was to me, pretty obvious, long before we got there in the book. However, that was not really important enough to detract from my enjoyment of the story. A good hopeful women’s fiction read.

Hard decisions and dreadful consequences

Our thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy.

The Wife's Choice is a story of hard decisions and their dreadful consequences. It was my first book by this author, but it won't be my last.

Alys Robinson was forty-eight years old and lived a lukewarm life with her husband and daughter.

She went every day to her meaningless job and came back home feeling lonely and senile.

Her only source of happiness was her daughter Esme. Recently graduated, Esme was starting her career as a chef assistant. Alys wished her daughter all the professional success she once thought she would achieve herself.

There was a time in which happiness was within Alys' reach, but a terrible accident took from her all hope. It had been more than twenty years, but Alys still caught herself talking to Sam like he was there.

The Wife's Choice is very cleverly written. I loved Alys' one-sided conversations with Sam, how well her emotions and frustrations were translated into the pages.

The side characters are well-rounded and intriguing, with a few surprises in stock.

There is the right amount of mystery, angst, and repressed love, all wrapped up in family issues and impossible choices.

Overall a great read! I recommend it!

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

*This review will be posted on https://lureviewsbooks.com on 08/06/2020 as part of the book's blog tour*

I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. Reading what the book was about, it was different and I thought about it and decided to read it. I am glad I did because the story was good but there is so much to see while reading.
It is about life, the choices one makes but sometimes the choices are made by someone else and there is nothing you can do about it. You have to go through in your journey and this is what is happening. Alys thought she had moved on and had created a wonderful life for herself. But the day came, that people associated with her past appeared in her life once again but she didn't realize it at the time. She had a woman who saw her worth and saw the amazing dress she had made for her sister-in-law for her engagement party but hadn't taken any credit for it. The woman was encouraging her to see her value.
I know the blurb doesn't tell you this and I might of read it for the way it was meant for me to read it, but it was nice to read about a woman encouraging other women, I also see by reading the book why my husband does some of the things he says and does. My honest review is, this wasn't the book I was expecting to read, it was so much more.

You are young and in love. You know exactly how you want your life to be and then life happens. 

After a devastating event, your world is dark. Little by little there is light at the end of the tunnel and you start feeling like your old self again, but then you are hit by a rock yet again.

You are totally down and broken when someone reaches out a hand to you and you take it gladly. You are slowly starting to live again.

But are you really living again or are you being lived? One look in the mirror tells you you are not you anymore. You have turned into someone you don't want to be any longer. You only started to realize this after a shocking encounter. 

Whose fault is it you became who you are now? The one who broke your heart? The one you helped you heal? Or you? There is only one person who can do something about it and she is starting back at you.

A great story about lies and deceit and even though you can hide them for several years, one day everybody will have to come clean and face the music. 5 stars

Thank you, Emma Davies and Bookouture.

Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book. I really wanted to enjoy this book and thought I would by the blurb however I found it just too slow of a burner for me. The main character was too weak willed and I found her frustrating. I have to admit I gave up reading at 50% through. Alys needs to stand up to her husband who decides she is collateral damage in his business and decides to make her redundant. When their daughter ends up working for her 1st husband she soon realises they have unfinished business. It was just too slow and the characters lacked depth.

A page turner, just as promised by the publisher. At first, I found the story a little predictable, but soon found myself engrossed. Great character development and secrets that threaten to undo one family's relationships make for a great read..

The Wife’s Choice was truly “unputdownable”. I absolutely loved the book and read it in one sitting. I’m a sucker for a story of what if’s and exploring the road not taken- in love, relationships and life. I found the story and the underlying message of resilience, love and unbreakable bonds uplifting and inspirational. I enjoyed the writing style, reminiscent of Tracy Garvis-Graves. 5 stars.

The Wife's Choice by Emma Davies is a character driven domestic drama that will have you emotionally invested from the very start.

Twenty years ago, Alys was married to Sam when he was involved in a terrible car accident that left him so physically damaged that he was fighting for his life. Sam's response was to push Alys away, divorcing her and telling her in no uncertain terms that he never wanted to see her again. Alys was, of course, devastated but went on to marry Hugh and have a daughter, Esme. Many years later Alys is at a crossroad in her life, with Esme getting ready to fly the nest, and at the same time being made redundant in her job by her own husband. But a chance encounter with the past might just provide Alys with the impetus to take a good hard look at what is really worth having when one reflects from the perspective of midlife.

This was a solid, emotionally engaging read. While a tad predictable, it presents a sharply observed take on middle age that will resonate, I suspect, on at least some level with many readers.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

WOW! This book is so immersible. It also felt like spying on an old friend. Any one of us could be Alys. Hitting middle age and BAM! Everything changes.
I loved all of the characters and felt like the support from all of the female characters in the book were like walking into a nice, warm, inviting hug.
The only issue, minor really, is how Alys would give Hugh a pass with some of his naughty behavior. I thought that she would have been more infuriating.
The other thing is that the author danced around domestic violence...mentioning several times that Alys was afraid of getting hit....but no violence occurred. It made me feel uneasy....and it wasn't resolved.

OVerall a lovely, feel good book about the complications of life. Loved it!

This was an extremely well written book with believable, well developed characters and a few twists and turns along the way.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

This was such a beautiful read and couldn’t put it down it’s the first book I have read from this author and won’t be the last. The storyline was poignant and well executed and the characters drew you in. The storyline had a few twists and turns which keeps the reader on their toes. It was sensitively written. If you like stories about the ups and downs of relationships and the ins and outs of family life
Then you will enjoy the other wife.

It’s a remarkable story about a woman who finds herself again. A woman who decides to reclaim her life after sleepwalking through life for so many years.
Read the full review on my blog:
.http://www.oliviasose.com/the-wifes-choice-by-emma-davies-book-review/

Twenty years ago when Aly's husband Sam met with terrible car accident that left him fighting for his life, he divorced her and refused to see her ever again for reasons she could never understand.

She married again and built a new family. But now, she’s just lost her job of over twenty years, her grown-up daughter is flying the nest, and her husband doesn’t see or even seem to care about the downward spiral she is in.

Then suddenly, a chance encounter with her past changes everything. Alys must decide whether or not to reveal the lie she’s been telling everyone all these years, with the risk of losing her daughter.

This is a typical family drama about love, sacrifices and forgiveness. The book was well-written, with well described characters and the story moving at a decent pace.

What I liked the most about this book apart from it's beautiful cover, is that the story and characters were not over dramatic at any point. Yes, there were quite a few times when I did get irritated with the main character, Alys for not being able to have a mind of her own and pursue the things that interest her. I liked the characters of Sam and Esme, but my favourite has to be Nancy without any doubt.

Overall, a recommended read for all women, with a clear message- there is no time limit for you to pursue your interests and let your happiness be your own and not one that's been decided for you by others!

Thank You to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!!

Alys lives with her husband Hugh and daughter Esme but she was also married twenty years ago when her then husband rejected her. What a shock when she meets him again.

There's very fine line between secrets and lie. What defines us? Is it the lies we tell, or the secrets we keep? And which is the worst?

Great story about family, love, control and forgiveness but a little too predictable for my taste.
All in all beautiful summer read.

Great story about love, family and forgiveness.
How shocking to inadvertently run into your ex-husband who disappeared over 20 years ago! When Alys saw Sam she was shocked, angry, and overwhelmed. After all, it is not everyday that your husband, whom she presumed had died, turned out to be the silent partner of the restaurant where her daughter works. Hugh, Alys' current husband, reacts to Sam's appearance with jealousy and hate.
Upon seeing Sam, Alys self reflects and realizes that she has given up a lot of her own dreams over the years to make Hugh happy, including her career choice. But, what will happen when Alys decides to pursue her dream job? Will her marriage survive when all the truth is uncovered about the past?
I enjoyed the story, and would have loved more from some of the family members. The beginning was focused on Alys' inlaws, and then they were absent for most of the story.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Twenty years ago, Alys' first husband turns her away and never wants to see her again. Even though he was in a terrible accident, Alys' follows his wishes and moves on with her life, but never stops thinking of her first love Sam.
Now married to Hugh, with a grown daughter Esme, Alys has a chance encounter that changes everything she thinks and feels about her present life.

I had mixed emotions reading this book. The fact that Alys lets Hugh control ever aspect of her life, even having the power to let her go from her current job, and this sparks little to no emotion from her was frustrating for me. I wanted her to be a stronger character and not just sleepwalk through her emotions.

The plot was predictable and the ending didn't surprise me at all. I did enjoy the happy ending though.


Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the advanced reader copy of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion

I wanted this book to be so much better!
I thought the synopsis sounded like the sort of novel I would really enjoy but in the end it was just okay......
The Wife’s Choice is about Alys. The book starts with her being made redundant from working in a department store, where she has worked for 25 years, despite her husband being the manager of the store. Her daughter then is offered her dream job and Alys realises she is at a bit of a cross roads.
The story is about being responsible for your own actions and taking control of your life, putting yourself first and they are the aspects I liked about it. I just thought it could have been better. It took me a while to get in to it and when I did there wasn’t ever an OMG moment so it fell a bit flat.

Thank you to the Author, Publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed reading The Wife’s Choice and couldn’t put it down.

An interesting story and characters you can warm to, however there wasn’t the ‘wow’ factor for me, so am giving it 3 stars.

I recommend this book for a nice easy read.