Customer Reviews

The Pretend Wife

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Although she is married to kindhearted Peter, Gwen Merchant agrees to help out her former college boyfriend Elliott Hull; his mother Vivian is dying and wants to meet his fiancée before she passes away. Gwen hides from Elliot that she looks forward to escaping the loving smothering of her spouse of three years who brings his profession into their marital relationship: anesthesiologist.

However, Gwen never expected her weekend masquerade would lead her to falling in love with Elliott and liking his family; especially his sister and her children. She also notices how Vivian scrutinizes and probably knows her relationship with Elliot is a sham even as she wonders if her late mom who drowned when Gwen was five would do likewise.

Until the unacceptable climax (at least to me), THE PRETEND WIFE is a superb profound look at relationships; not just that of Gwen with her spouse, her sham spouse, her widower dad and others, but also Elliot with his mom and sister.. The story line is character driven filled with pathos and humor while exploring human needs for companionship. Gwen makes the tale work with her energy and enthusiasm as the weekend provides her insightful revelations about life's shortness making every relationship matter.

Harriet Klausner

BOOK REVIEW: 'The Pretend Wife': A Second Chance at Marital Bliss? Or Just a Weekend Lark?

By David M. Kinchen


Come on now, wives (and husbands): Wouldn't you like to imagine how life would have been different if you had married a long-lost lover instead of your present spouse?

Gwen Stevens has a chance to do just that in Bridget Asher's "The Pretend Wife" (Bantam, 288 pages, $24.00), when she meets her college boyfriend Elliot Hull while both are waiting to be served at a crowded ice cream shop.

Gwen is happy in her marriage to anesthesiologist Peter Stevens, at least she thinks so. They've been together for five years, married for three and living the proverbial comfortable yuppie life in a condo in an upscale part of Baltimore, MD.

She's shocked out of her complacency when Elliot, her boyfriend when they were attending Loyola College -- the one in Baltimore -- says "I'll have two scoops of Gwen Merchant, please" at the ice cream parlor.

Elliot hadn't changed much from their years-ago college days. Elliot is the kind of guy who ages well, with his lean body, a full head of hair and a casual look with his Red Sox baseball cap, unshaven face and too baggy shorts.

Peter is at the shop with a fellow doctor and the doctor's kids and introductions are made. Elliot is invited to Gwen's and Peter's condo where he makes an off-the-wall proposition. He wants Gwen to come to his family's lake house and for a weekend pretend to be Elliot's wife for his dying mother Vivian. Elliot's sister Jennifer and her two children will be there to chaperone the "pretend" couple. To Gwen's surprise, Peter Stevens is comfortable with the idea and so begins a magical chapter in her life.

Sounds like "chick lit," doesn't it? Yes, and no. The dust jacket design screams "Romance Novel", but this is a book male readers might find eye opening. After all, men are subject to second-guessing as much as women about relationships and what might have been.

Gwen is a survivor (aren't we all?) : When she was five years old she survived an accident when her mother's car went into a river. Her mother died and she was raised by her work-obsessed marine biologist father, with help from their next-door neighbors, Dr. and Mrs. Benny Fogelman, her dad's dentist and his warm-hearted wife.

Since this is the kind of book that contains spoilers -- boy is it! -- I won't describe what happens. Read "The Pretend Wife" and see if it doesn't bring back memories of past relationships. The novel kept me reading to the end because the characters were people I wanted to find out more about. Some of them were likeable, others not so much, but all were interesting, reminding me of people I've known.

"The Pretend Wife" would be a good choice for a book group, preferably one that contains both men and women.

[...]

I just loved the quirkiness of My Husband's Sweethearts and looked forward to reading Bridget Asher's 2nd book. I was so glad after I finished it last night that I'd gotten it at the library and didn't spend money for it--what a disappointment! The premise was interesting: what would you do if an old love showed up in your married life? Passion or safety? The unknown or the familiar?

But this book plods along in a fairly predictable way. Asher does a good job of not tipping her hand about Gwen's final choice until near the end. But the ending seemed rushed, and I really got the feeling that Asher's editor and Asher had a conversation about (spoiler alert) throwing in an affair of husband Peter's to justify Gwen's choice. It seemed tacked on (and tacky). And considering the turmoil caused by Gwen's struggles with her mother's death, I just thought the ending of the book was too much for me to stomach.

I felt the need to add my negative opinion to the other glowing reviews of this book. If you want a recommendation for a better book with the same general theme as Pretend Wife, try Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin.

This is the second book I have read from Bridget Asher. I must say, the first book I read by her, The Provence Cure for the Brokenhearted, was an incredible read. This book, The Pretend Wife, wasn't bad, but it didn't move me in any way. It was a quick read and enjoyable, but not memorable. Whereas, I will remember the Provence Cure novel. I do like Bridget Asher's way of writing to her readers. I will look for more of her books. This one just wasn't a favorite.

I loved this book! I started it in the morning and finished it about five hours later. I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to see what Asher has in store for us next!

What a roundabout way of giving yourself permission to leave your husband for another man.
This premise had all the ear marks of a fun, wacky I Love Lucy-esque episode. Instead it was dull.
The book is in three sections. The first is when the ex shows up and asks Gwen to pretend she's his wife in order for his dying mother to go happy knowing he's married. The rest of the section is Gwen hemming and hawing over whether she should or not. Her husband says she can, then recants. But she clearly wants to go whether he likes it or not. So she does. She hides behind the old, "I gave my word," excuse. As though it's unheard of to tell someone you'd do something then have to back out.
Part two: she spends time with the ex and his family. They're all sort of endearing, nice people, but not enough to make anyone wish, "Wow, I want to be a part of this family." Not unless you're so desperate to get away from your own, that even this ordinary bunch looks like heaven in comparison. Guess that's why Gwen is smitten. It's also clear that the ex just wanted to get back with her and used the dying mother thing as a manipulative device to guilt Gwen into going along. I guess some women would find that flattering. Gwen clearly does.
Part three: She returns to her husband only to want to be with her ex. She suddenly doesn't have to feel guilty this because she realizes that her husband isn't as good a guy as she thought. Here passport to freedom.
There's also a subplot with her father and how there's finally closure on their relationship when she comes to learn the truth about her mother's death. That should have tugged at my heartstrings. It didn't.

I read numerous reviews praising this book before I purchased it. About the best thing I can say is I like the cover art. The book was trite, predicatable, and not worth my time or money. Very disappointing!

The Pretend Wife skips along in a light-hearted first person narrative from Gwen's point of view. While Peter is off talking to someone from work, Gwen stood on line in an ice cream shop when Elliot Hull, an old peer from college, shows up. Gwen could never see it coming. Elliot began to charm his way into her life, even inviting himself to her party in the presence of her husband on his return, with his approval. Then, she went on to paint herself into a corner by letting Elliot fit right in.

Motivated by guilt and shame, he began to make claims that would ease the burden of a dieing mother and fulfill the missing elements of his life. He persuades her to assume the most challenging and distasteful masquerade of her life.

This little tale forces us to re-examine the roles that we play with our spousal relationships and helps us re-evaluate our lives and understand our predicaments. Although the author, Bridget Asher, takes desultory account of little details that drive this narrow-plotted yarn, she manages to find a way to weave a plot that deserves to be told. I would not call this the great American novel, but it is certainly entertaining and worth reading.

The book is completely predictable from the very beginning and ties up really neatly, but that's chick lit, and as long as you don't go into it expecting great literature, you won't be disappointed. It's cute, funny, quirky and light. It's a quick read and enjoyable.

This book is more than just a smuck Love story. Gwen deals with many facets of Life a lot of us has had to deal with. Losing her mother at a young age. A father who doesn't help give closure.
Different types of friends with different types of lifestyles.
Both the men she loves seem Ideal for her and you will just need to read the whole book to see why she makes her decisions. There is a good flow to this book with a tad of mystery, death, healing,bonding. It has some areas of wit and humor. I truly enjoyed this book It was hard for me to put down.