"The After Wife" by Melanie Summers
“Reading through tears, and a few giggles, and more tears...The After Wife is beautiful, in so many ways. Well-done, Melanie Summers, it’s wonderful.”-Green Gables Book Reviews
Reviewed by Books and Pens on Green Gables
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I loved every part of The After Wife by Melanie Summers! I loved feeling the emotions I felt, the hope for Abby, the sadness for Olive missing her mom, the frustration Abby felt with Gus (hilarious)! It was so great! The After Wife is the first book I have read by Melanie Summers. What an amazing introduction!
I’m so glad I read the Author’s Note at the beginning of the book. I think it helped knowing there would be something I didn’t expect. The story of Abby and her husband, Isaac, was lovely. They had the life they wanted. When he died, Abby was so stricken by grief, her entire world literally stopped as she became of shell of herself, devastated.
When ignoring her mail leads to a difficult decision, Abby makes a big life change. She moves to a place she knows Isaac would want her to be-in Canada. She buys a home, packs up, and moves, all in a matter of weeks. When she arrives, the house is not the house of her dreams, instead it is the house that will deplete her life-savings from her career as an author.
She is overwhelmed, lost, and doesn’t want to admit her mom may have been right. With unwanted help from the neighbors at the B&B, (and their hope of match-making), she is introduced to Liam, construction worker, mover, a jack of all trades. Soon the Abby that was grieving discovers therapy in outdoor projects and renovations. And, along the way, she makes friends in this small town. Abby is learning it’s ok to open up, be a neighbor, and be a friend.
When Abby meets Liam’s daughter, Olive, her heart melts for this sweet girl. Abby learns through Olive that sometimes it’s ok to change your mind and it’s ok to care about someone.
5 stars absolutely! The After Wife is highly recommended by Books and Pens on Green Gables!
I received a free copy of this book to read and review. Thank you!
