Publisher: 3rd November 2022 by Harlequin Australia, HQ & MIRA
Pages: 528 pages
Genre: contemporary
My Rating: 3 cups
Synopsis:
How well do you really know the people you work with?
For work wives Debra and Quinn, it's a case of opposites attract. They are each other's lifelines as they navigate office politics and jobs that pay the bills but don't inspire them.
Outside work, they are also friends, but where Quinn is addicted to dating apps and desperate to find love, Deb has sworn off men. Although Deb is not close to her own mother, her teenage daughter is her life and there's nothing she wouldn't do to protect her. But Ramona has other ideas and is beginning to push boundaries.
Life becomes even more complicated by the arrival of a new man at the office. One woman is attracted to him, while the other hoped she'd never meet him again.
But when Deb, Quinn and Ramona are forced to choose between friends, love and family, the ramifications run deeper than they could ever have expected.
The latest novel by bestselling, ABIA award winning author Rachael Johns will make you laugh, cry and wonder what secrets your friends are keeping!
My Thoughts
‘… why am I wasting my Friday night with this nice but boring, tennis obsessed man, when I could be with my work wife? So here I am.’
The Work Wives is the latest offering by Aussie favourite Rachel Johns. A story of two friends, one with a daughter, and the impact of secrets. So, there are three first person narratives (one of them being a teen perspective) and this, along with the fact that I expected a story to be revolving around workplace situations, proved not to be quite the read I was expecting.
I have read and enjoyed many of Rachel’s books but I came away a little disappointed with this one. Whilst I appreciated the overall storyline - two working women and how their friendship provides support through life’s ups and downs - I felt there were a few things that I could not reconcile. There were many themes in this story (bullying, abuse, domestic violence, aging, alzhimers, teen peer pressure, single parenting, online dating, emotional manipulation …. the list goes on) most of which were dependent upon seemingly contrived coincidences. This was a long read and I would have preferred fewer themes dealt with in greater depth. For example, themes of school bullying and domestic violence need to be sensitively and adequately presented.
I am a long time supporter of Rachel, especially her rural romances, but I found this book did not quite hit the spot for me. Many of her fans are sure to love it, however, I felt too much was undertaken and, despite the book’s length, failed to be appropriately addressed. With a mixture of dark and light themes, The Work Wives is sure to speak to many readers.
‘That’s what friends are for.’ Deb lifted her glass. ‘Amen. To friendship.’ They clinked and Quinn added, ‘And many, many, many years of it to come.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
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