Book Review - Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield

Title: Our Wives Under the Sea
Series: -
Author: Julia Armfield
 
Description: Miri thinks she has got her wife back, when Leah finally returns after a deep-sea mission that ended in catastrophe. It soon becomes clear, though, that Leah is not the same. Whatever happened in that vessel, whatever it was they were supposed to be studying before they were stranded on the ocean floor, Leah has brought part of it back with her, onto dry land and into their home.
 
Moving through something that only resembled normal life, Miri comes to realize that the life they had before might be gone. Though Leah is still here, Miri can feel the woman she loves slipping from her grasp.
 
Review: In Our Wives Under the Sea”, we follow the couple Leah and miri. They have been separated for months because Leah has been trapped at the bottom of the sea for six months, for a research mission. However, the real misery begins once the submarine resurfaces and she is reunited with Miri. Leah’s deep-sea mission has changed her for good.
 
As a reader, you strongly empathize with Miri. She is happy that Leah is back, but she realizes she isn’t the same person. And she tries everything to make her feel better and to try and understand her. Her narration alternates with that of Leah, where she looks back on the mission and we see what it was like to be on a submarine for so long. The experience made Leah a stranger to Miri.
 
It's a highly character-driven story, that over plot. And I’m more of a plot-driven kind of reader. With that, the story sometimes drags and is a bit boring at times too. I never really got into the story. Other than feeling sympathy for both characters, reading about their connection and the beautiful writing, this book did nothing for me.
 
I guess, this is not the type of book for me. But I was so disappointed, because I had such high hopes for “Our Wives Under the Sea”.
 
Rating: 2, 5/ 5