Put a Wife in It: Trends in Fiction

Is it just me, or does every other bestseller have "wife" in the title? Heck, I've read at least three of them myself without even trying.

The most recent one was The Silent Wife by A. S. A. Harrison. This was a real page turner! The story centers on a wife and husband whose marriage has gone awry. It's a psychological thriller along the lines of last year's blockbuster hit Gone Girl.

Another somewhat recent title that is still going strong is The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. This tells the story of Ernest Hemingway's first wife, Hadley Richardson. If you know anything about Hemingway, you know this was not a happy life. Of course, this makes for great fiction. Throw in the literati and Paris in the 1920s, and it's no wonder this remains a big hit.

And, finally there's Sue Miller's The Senator's Wife. This top-notch domestic drama has at its center a mature wife, the titular senator's wife, and a young, newlywed wife. The story follows these two beautifully drawn characters as their lives intersect and then drift apart. Perhaps not as big a hit as the previous two titles, but still an engaging read with real insight into the lives of women.

Still not convinced? Then check out my list of wifely books.