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Read advance reader review of How to Be a Good Wife by Emma Chapman, page 3 of 4

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How to Be a Good Wife by Emma Chapman

How to Be a Good Wife

by Emma Chapman

  • Critics' Consensus (0):
  • Published:
  • Oct 2013, 288 pages
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Page 3 of 4
There are currently 22 member reviews
for How to Be a Good Wife
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  • Julie D. (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA)
    Confused.....
    After reading this book I am more confused than when I started it. I found myself not sure where I was in the story and what was going on. I got excited as the story unfolded and thought I finally understood and then the ending left me even more confused. Well written story, but maybe not for me. I almost feel stupid after reading it and not being able to understand the story.
  • Jan Z. (Jefferson, SD)
    How to Be a Good Wife
    Sometimes the probability of something happening vs. the possibility of that thing happening can make or break a novel. This debut novel's plot seemed implausible to me, which made it somewhat of a drudgery to read. The saving factor was that it was well written and the characters were basically, though perhaps a little routinely, interesting (especially the weak Marta). Hector could have been a little more developed, I never felt like I really "knew" him. I never liked Marta, but she was a rounded character for the most part.

    I would give the novel a "poor" rating for the plot seeming to be so improbable, but the writing, dialogue, and characters were all somewhat well done, so I gave it an "average" rating.
  • Teresa H. (Mechanicsville, VA)
    Just ok
    I had a hard time with this book. It started out very slowly and I never really got a feel for the characters. I suppose the intention was to keep the reader off guard and that worked well but for me Marta never seemed like a real person.
  • Sharon L. (Bowie, MD)
    More detail Needed!
    This book lacked "definition"; for example where and when did it take place - more detail about "the setting" would made it more engaging. Although it was well written and some of the descriptions brought things to life, it wasn't enough to compensate for the fact that the characters were not likable, the story often confusing, and the ending rather trite.
  • Marybeth T. (Bellingham, WA)
    Not what I was hoping for
    I was hoping for a bit more than what I got. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. The first half was very slow. It started to pick up speed in the second half and then I knew what was going to happen about 50 pages before the end. There also wasn't one character that I liked. I guess maybe I am a little tired of this subject. I was hoping for more of a thriller.
  • Chris H. (Wauwatosa, WI)
    How To Be a Good Wife
    I found this book a bit confusing right from the title. There was not even one character I felt especially interested in. It wasn't a bad book, but just a book. Not memorable for me.
  • Melanie B. (Piedmont, SC)
    How to Be a Good Wife
    This book never drew me in and turned out to be nothing like I expected, in a negative way. Marta's story never took hold or really made much sense to me and there were plot holes galore. A lot of details essential to the plot were left completely unexplained, which made the entire story implausible to me. At times it even seemed that parts of the narrative were missing. Not a particularly enjoyable read, sorry to say.

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