Video Book Review: The Other Woman by Sandie Jones

The Other Woman represents a love triangle, but not in the way you might expect.

The woman in question, the one trying to ruin Emily and Adam’s relationship, is Pammie, Adam’s mother.

In Adam, Emily thinks she’s found the love of her life. He’s handsome, successful, attentive – she feels lucky to have snagged him. When she meets his mother, though, she quickly becomes victim to Pammie’s barbs.

Pammie’s passive aggressive moves towards Emily soon become outright aggressive. She makes not so subtle remarks about Emily’s appearance, interrupts Emily and Adam’s sexy time, invites a sworn enemy to the bachelorette getaway.  But through it all, Adam remains unaware, his devotion to his mother never wavering.

The Other Woman is the November pick for Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club. It’s getting a lot of buzz. So, of course, I have to be contrarian and list my frustrations with the book.

In a bout of victim shaming, my main frustration is with Emily herself. Throughout Pammie’s antics, Emily remains mostly mute, rarely sharing her frustration with Adam or even her own circle of friends and family. Instead, Emily turns it into a sort of contest for who can win Adam’s affection. All of this despite the fact that it becomes clear pretty quickly that Adam is no catch.

I just don’t understand. Why didn’t Emily speak up for herself more? Why didn’t she confront her lousy partner when he was acting lousy? Why did she turn it into a competition for who could love the crappy man the most?

And most of all, why didn’t Pammie just sit down with her and have an honest conversation? Her excuse seemed flimsy at best.

The Other Woman is such a stressful book. And one whose problems could be easily solved by better communication. Just a simple conversation! There was ample opportunity.

Of course, the book would end much much sooner, without the drama and suspense if that were the case. And it is a lot of fun to hate-read these characters.

Despite my frustrations, The Other Woman hooked me. I had to keep going to see what happened next.

Is it possible to enjoy a book and simultaneously want to throw it across the room?

The Other Woman
Sandie Jones
Published August 2018
Minotaur Books

Watch this book review of The Other Woman by Sandie Jones and other booky videos on my Read Remark booktube channel on YouTube.

Music credit: YouTube.com