The Wise Women by Gina Sorell: Book Review

The Wise Women by Gina Sorell is the story of an advice columnist and her two adult daughters.  Told from the perspectives of all three women, the book provides an interesting look at relationships.  The Wise Women publishes on April 5, 2022.

From The Publisher:

Popular advice columnist Wendy Wise has been skillfully advising the women who write to her seeking help for four decades, so why are her own daughters’ lives such a mess? Clementine, the working mother of a six-year-old boy, has just discovered that she is renting the Queen’s home that she thought she owned, because her husband Steve secretly funnelled their money into his flailing start-up. Meanwhile, her sister Barb has overextended herself at her architecture firm and reunited semi-unhappily with her cheating girlfriend.
When Steve goes MIA and Clementine receives an eviction notice, Wendy swoops in to save the day, even though her daughters, who are holding onto some resentments from childhood, haven’t asked for her help. But as soon as Wendy sets her sights on hunting down her rogue son-in-law, Barb and Clementine quickly discover that their mother has been hiding more than a few problems of her own.
As the three women confront the disappointments and heartaches that have accumulated between them over the years, they discover that while the future may look entirely different from the one that they’ve expected, it may be even brighter than they’d hoped.

Book Review:

I enjoy stories of mothers and daughters and The Wise Women was no exception. The book is full of relationship issues: between these women and their spouses, as well as between each other.  Having the perspective of all three women really worked in this book.

As the matriarch, advice columnist Wendy Wise was used to being the expert on relationships. Widowed at a young age, she did her best to raise her two daughters.  Having said that, she was not perfect.  The way that each of her daughters views their relationship with her is much different.

Barb is the older of the two sisters.  She has a strong relationship with her sister, but a somewhat estranged one with her mother.  Barb was given a lot of responsibility growing up and is continuing this with her architecture firm.  Striving to be independent in all ways possible, her workaholic tendencies have impacted her relationships.

Clementine’s story one is the most interesting one.  After learning of her husband Steve’s financial management of the couple’s money, she finds herself and her six-year-old son without a home.  Moreover, Steve has just racked up several thousand dollars on their credit card.  Never feeling like she could meet her mother’s expectations, she’s come to ask her mother’s advice through her advice column using an alias.

The characters are likeable and the story is entertaining.  It was interesting to read how these relationships progressed and how communication lends perspective.  If you enjoy Women’s Fiction or stories of family relationships, I’d recommend The Wise Women.

Audiobook Review:

I listened to the audiobook version of the Wise Women which was narrated by Stacey Glemboski.  I enjoyed her performance and her ability to provide a realistic voice to all three women.  I have no hesitation in recommending the audiobook version of the book to those that enjoy this format.

What I Liked:

• The use of multiple perspectives
• The family dynamics of the three women
• The character development of the central characters

I Recommend This Book To:

Readers who enjoy Women’s Fiction or stories about family relationships.

My Rating:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Add The Wise Women to your Goodreads shelf

Acknowledgments:

Thank you to HarperAudio and Netgalley for the ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Similar Books I’ve Reviewed:

One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

It’s Better This Way by Debbie Macomber

Thanks for reading!  I hope you have a wonderful day!