The Wife Between Us

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2018

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1, Prologue-Chapter 3

Part 1, Chapters 4-6

Part 1, Chapters 7-9

Part 1, Chapters 10-12

Part 1, Chapters 13-15

Part 1, Chapters 16-18

Part 2, Chapters 19-21

Part 2, Chapters 22-24

Part 2, Chapters 25-27

Part 2, Chapters 28-30

Part 3, Chapters 31-33

Part 3, Chapters 34-36

Part 3, Chapters 37-39

Part 3, Chapter 40-Epilogue

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

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Discussion Questions

Essay Topics

Consider the ways the themes of truth and perception manifest throughout the story—what makes a novel an apt vehicle to explore these themes? How does the medium of the ideas impact their exploration?

How is Richard able to manipulate Vanessa so successfully? What are the earliest signs of his abuse? In what ways do these early signs appear ordinary? In what ways do they appear menacing?

In what ways does Emma act as a foil for Vanessa? In what ways does she not? Why would Hendricks and Pekkanen choose an ex-wife and the younger wife to fulfill these roles? Does Vanessa have any other foils?

Describe the significance of instincts and human nature in the novel. How do these biological traits help Vanessa? How do they hinder her?

What are the initial hints that Vanessa and Nellie are the same person? Why do you think Hendricks and Pekkanen included this twist? What is the significance of representing one woman as two separate ones?

In what ways does the novel address trauma successfully? In what ways is it lacking? How do the authors convey the psychological and physical effects of trauma?

Vanessa’s life—for better or worse—has been shaped by her relationships to other women. Why do you think the authors chose to focus on female relationships? In what ways does this choice subscribe to the conventions of the genre? In what ways does it subvert convention?

What role does memory play in the novel? Does it represent memory as reliable? Why or why not?

Consider the ways the novel portrays a character’s past influencing his or her behavior. How is this achieved? Is it more successful with some characters than others? If so, why?

10.

The final twist calls into question what role each character really played throughout the novel. Which character, if any, was in control of the narrative? Does the novel have a single protagonist or antagonist? Why or why not?