BelEdit Book Reviews
A Happy Wife blends speculative fiction with psychological thriller for a gripping and twisty read. After a tough childhood in the foster system, Ivy craves the security of marriage to a man who will love her forever, and who she will love forever, thanks to neural implants. But cracks are appearing in their perfect marriage. Is Ivan all he seems? Where is he during his extended work trips? Who can she trust? And why is she starting to question their love for each other?
I don’t usually much like psychological thrillers about married couples (they’re usually too close to the romance genre for my liking), but I do like a good speculative novel so the neural implants plot device piqued my interest.
And it’s cleverly used. Not only does the neural implant, or chip, drive the plot, it also raises questions about free will versus manipulation, the nature of love and the ethical limits of technology. Finally, it points to Ivy’s vulnerability: she’s dependent on a private technology company for her day-to-day thoughts and feelings, perhaps even for her very survival.
Unfortunately, while the first half to two-thirds kept me engaged, after that it goes a bit all over the place, and the ending is a damp squib.
Overall, it was fine but could have been better.
Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the ARC. All my reviews are 100% honest and unbiased, regardless of how I acquire the book.
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