54 pages 1 hour read

Julia Armfield

Our Wives Under the Sea

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2022

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

In Julia Armfield’s debut novel Our Wives Under the Sea, main characters Miri and Leah tell the story of their relationship, and its end, through alternating narratives. Leah, a marine biologist, returns six months late from a deep-sea expedition trapped in a submarine, and her physical and emotional transformation strains their marriage. The novel depicts graphic body horror and death, as well as mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Julia Armfield's Our Wives Under the Sea receives praise for its poetic and haunting prose, as well as its poignant exploration of love and grief. Critics appreciate the unique blend of horror and romance, though some feel the narrative's slow pace may not appeal to all readers. Overall, it's a compelling, emotionally resonant read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Our Wives Under the Sea?

A reader who would enjoy Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield likely appreciates atmospheric and introspective storytelling with a blend of surrealism and emotional depth. Fans of Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman or Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado will find resonant themes and a captivating, eerie narrative.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction

Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction

Modern Classic Fiction

Topics

LGBTQ

Themes

Relationships: Marriage

Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Natural World: Appearance & Reality