Ok at first I thought pru was an idiotI mean who goes back to an ex that dumped you Then I realized that you never really stop loving the person you first fell head over heels for and I started to relate to her you knowThen when Matt turned out to be an even bigger dick than before I kept hoping she would go back to Reilly, then Reilly was engaged wtf I really thought they could you know fix the marriage :(But after about half way through I was so upset for pru I couldn't stop crying like a babyNot one man in her life (father, Matt or Reilly) fought for herThey all left her and didn't love her enough to fight for herFather left for another familyMatt chose Europe and LA over herAnd Reilly left emotionally then physically twice All I was thinking was that none of those asshats deserve her Reilly should have fight to fix the marriage that he was supposedly so happy in for 14 years ... At first I thought him the victim but he accepted the fate of his marriage so easily If my husband cheated on me, yeah I'd be pissed but I'd want to know why it didn't work and at least suggest fixing itYeah she was engaged but I would still want to suggesting fighting for us to fix it ... 14 years shouldn't just go down the crapper without a fight and that whole bit about how he won't make the same mistake with his new wife, so she was a mistake, a 14 year mistake... Wanker Her father still gave her consolation prizes ... A dream catcher ... After he didn't show for her graduation cause his new daughter had an Indian party to go to please... Like that's going to fix 14 years of being second to everyone elseAnd Matt ... Omg wat a fuckstick... I know she thought she loved him but he did nothing for her... Never once did he actually ask for more details about her supposed deceased husband.... Yeah if I was marring a widow I would try to console them you know or at least care enough to be told the story, their pain is your pain all that jazz.... Two years is nothing for a husband to be dead. I was wooping when she cancelled the insurance woohoo you go girlThen only reason this didn't get 5 stars is because I'm a sap for a happy endingShe goes to Italy and get a convertible WHAT???!!?? No hotty that she gets her happily ever after with? I thought the nun was like a spiritual guide and she would meet "the one" at the so-called spiritual retreat and get her happy ever afterShe deserved a happy ever after ... Yay she went to Italy but still why should she end up alone when all she wants is someone to love her and fight for her and not dump her Is it so much to ask for her to be happy
As I started reading this book, I was planning on maybe finishing it, but not liking it. The premise is what I would say about some sitcoms, and that is having the "idiot plot." I couldn't take the plot seriously. I don't think anyone would really try to find a replacement wife, that a group of friends would go along with it, that any woman would show up for a date with the guy's sister, etc etc etc. I even had a hard time with Matt's marriage proposal after a weekend of reconnecting with Prudence. I just didn't buy it as happening in real life. But, as I read on, I was able to set all that aside and enjoy the book. We suspend reality for all kinds of genres - fantasy, science fiction, etc. so I thought I could suspend reality for this plot and move on. And I wanted to, because I loved her wit and writing style. I thought her thoughts and commentary were really clever and funny. One thing in the plot I did like, was the added dimension of her father - I thought that gave the sarcastic, cynical, selfish Prudence a vulnerable side. I thought it factored into her personality and decisions in a very interesting way. That part of the book was believeable - her anger toward her father. I wish she had been able to to into a little more depth about Prudence confronting him about what he had done, but all in all, I think it was good. I ended up really enjoying the book, despite the reality checks and the main character's flaws.
What do You think about The Wife Of Reilly (2004)?
I thought the premise of the book was completely preposterous. It was incredibly unrealistic. The main character, Prudence, goes out of town, back to her alma mater only to run into her college boyfriend that she never quite got over. He invites her out and they pretty much pick up where they left off years ago. One problem: She's already married. Instead of telling him this, she lets him think her husband is dead. Despite not having talked to this guy for years and only having a weekend with hi
—Kandice
I rarely give up on books, but this one had me beat after only 7% in. It wasn't only that I didn't like the main character. In fact, I kind of liked that I hated the woman because I wanted to see what the author would do to redeem such a horrible person. No, what turned me off were the flashbacks embedded in flashbacks and the complete improbability of the story (the woman returns to U of M football game twelve years after she graduated and, out of a crowd of tens of thousands of people, just happens to be sitting two rows over from the man she once dated in college?) The anti-parenting diatribe at the beginning pushed me over the edge.I wanted to like this book because I thought the premise and cover was cute. Also, I love reading books about my home state. Unfortunately, I just couldn't do it.
—Michelle
The Wife of Reilly is about Prudence, a New York accountant, who is married to Reilly. A weekend away back to her old college sees her running into her college love, Matt. By the end of the weekend, they are engaged. There's just one problem, She told Matt that Reilly died in a boating accident. Oh, and there's the fact that she is still married to him. Luckily for her, Matt lives on the other side of the country, which gives her time to solve her little "problem".Enter - The Scheme. Prudence ropes in her friends to help find a replacement wife for Reilly, so that he doesn't "lose out" when she marries Matt. A personal ad is placed, a singles party is thrown, chaos ensues.The basic premise of this book disturbed me greatly. Yet it also intrigued me which is why I read it. The story moves quickly in places, but very slowly in others. Sometimes you are left wanting to grab Prudence and slap the stupid out of her. Other times you think she just might be a genius. The secondary characters are charming and likable, but perhaps should make more of an appearance. The Wife of Reilly is not your usual "chick lit" and is definitely not a romance, despite what you may think. If you are looking for something light, but different to the usual chick lit genre, give this one a go.
—Kylie
