Jackie Thomas-Kennedy’s debut novel, The Other Wife, arrives as a deeply introspective examination of a woman caught between the life she has and the life she might have had. Set against the backdrop of a single winter weekend, the novel follows Susan “Zuzu” Braeburn as she confronts the accumulated weight of choices made and paths not taken. What emerges is a work that is simultaneously achingly beautiful and frustratingly unresolved—much like its protagonist’s own emotional state.
The narrative unfolds with the kind of literary precision that marks Thomas-Kennedy as a writer to watch. Her prose carries the weight of accumulated longing, each sentence carefully constructed to mirror Zuzu’s internal landscape of memory and regret. The writing style itself becomes a character in the story, with its meandering quality reflecting the protagonist’s tendency to drift between past and present, reality and possibility.
Character Development and Internal Conflicts
Zuzu emerges as a complex protagonist whose very relatability becomes both the novel’s greatest strength and its most significant limitation. Thomas-Kennedy captures with remarkable accuracy the specific melancholy of approaching middle age—that moment when dreams begin to feel more like distant memories than future possibilities. Zuzu’s marriage to Agnes has settled into the kind of comfortable dysfunction that many readers will recognize: routine interactions punctuated by small irritations, love that has transformed into something more akin to familiar obligation.
The character of Agnes presents particular challenges for both the protagonist and the reader. Thomas-Kennedy depicts her as competent, successful, and fundamentally decent, yet somehow emotionally unavailable. This portrayal raises uncomfortable questions about the nature of desire and compatibility in long-term relationships. Is Agnes truly cold and disconnected, or is she simply the victim of Zuzu’s wandering attention? The novel’s strength lies in its refusal to provide easy answers to such questions.
Cash, the object of Zuzu’s enduring fascination, functions less as a fully realized character than as a repository for her unfulfilled desires. Thomas-Kennedy writes their interactions with a palpable sense of missed connections and unspoken possibilities, capturing the particular ache of relationships that exist in the conditional tense. Their scenes together crackle with the kind of tension that comes from years of careful restraint and mutual recognition of what cannot be.
Narrative Structure and Temporal Complexity
The structure of “The Other Wife” mirrors its thematic concerns, moving fluidly between past and present in a way that reflects how memory intrudes upon daily life. Thomas-Kennedy employs a mosaic approach, building her story through interconnected vignettes that gradually reveal the full scope of Zuzu’s dissatisfaction. This technique works particularly well in capturing the way pivotal moments in our lives often seem mundane at the time, only gaining significance in retrospect.
The weekend frame provides urgency to what might otherwise feel like an overly contemplative narrative. The death of Zuzu’s father serves as both catalyst and metaphor—a reminder of life’s finite nature that forces her to confront her own mortality and the choices that have defined her existence. Thomas-Kennedy handles this device with skill, avoiding the heavy-handedness that often accompanies such plot mechanics.
Exploring Themes of Sexuality and Identity
One of the novel’s most compelling aspects is its nuanced exploration of sexual identity and the fluidity of desire. Zuzu’s attraction to Cash doesn’t negate her relationship with Agnes; rather, it complicates it in ways that feel authentic and emotionally honest. Thomas-Kennedy avoids the trap of treating bisexuality as a phase or confusion, instead presenting it as a legitimate aspect of human complexity.
The domestic scenes between Zuzu and Agnes ring with particular truth, capturing the way intimate relationships can become simultaneously essential and suffocating. The author’s attention to detail—the way Agnes leaves clothes on the floor while meticulously organizing her work life, or how Zuzu tallies the minutes of Agnes’s work it takes to pay for household purchases—creates a vivid portrait of modern marriage under strain.
Literary Strengths and Weaknesses
In The Other Wife, Thomas-Kennedy demonstrates considerable skill in crafting moments of quiet revelation. Her ability to find profound meaning in mundane domestic interactions marks her as a writer with genuine insight into human nature. The novel’s exploration of class consciousness, particularly in Zuzu’s observations about her college friends’ inherited advantages, adds layers of social commentary that elevate the personal story.
However, the novel’s contemplative pace occasionally works against it. While the introspective tone serves the character well, there are stretches where the narrative momentum stalls under the weight of Zuzu’s ruminations. Some readers may find themselves longing for more decisive action from a protagonist who seems perpetually on the verge of making significant changes without ever quite committing to them.
The resolution, or lack thereof, will likely divide readers. Thomas-Kennedy resists the impulse to provide neat conclusions to Zuzu’s dilemmas, which feels honest but may leave some readers unsatisfied. The novel’s ending suggests possibility rather than resolution, which aligns with its themes but may frustrate those seeking clearer closure.
Writing Style and Voice
Thomas-Kennedy’s prose style deserves particular praise for its precision and emotional resonance. She writes with the kind of observed detail that suggests deep familiarity with her subject matter. Her sentences often carry multiple layers of meaning, working both as straightforward narrative and as psychological insight. The author’s background in short fiction is evident in her ability to pack significant emotional weight into seemingly simple moments.
The dialogue feels natural and unforced, capturing the way people actually speak while maintaining literary merit. Thomas-Kennedy has a particular gift for writing the kinds of conversations where the most important things remain unspoken, relying on subtext and implication to carry emotional weight.
Cultural and Social Commentary
Beyond its personal focus, “The Other Wife” offers sharp observations about contemporary life and social expectations. Thomas-Kennedy’s portrayal of academic and professional environments feels authentic, particularly her depiction of the law school world and its emphasis on achievement over personal fulfillment. The book’s exploration of class differences, particularly through Zuzu’s observations about her more privileged college friends, adds depth to what might otherwise be a purely personal narrative.
Similar Works and Literary Context
Readers drawn to The Other Wife might find similar satisfaction in works like The Hours by Michael Cunningham, which similarly explores the weight of choices and the passage of time. Emma Straub’s Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures offers another perspective on reinvention and the roads not taken. For those interested in contemporary LGBTQ literature that deals with complex relationship dynamics, Real Life by Brandon Taylor provides a different but equally nuanced exploration of identity and desire.
Recommended Reading for Similar Themes:
- Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill
- Weather by Jenny Offill
- The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer
- Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
- The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka
Final Assessment
The Other Wife succeeds as a meditation on the nature of choice and desire in contemporary life. Thomas-Kennedy has created a protagonist whose struggles feel both specific and universal, capturing the particular melancholy of middle age with uncommon insight. While the novel’s contemplative pace and ambiguous resolution may not satisfy all readers, those who appreciate literary fiction that prioritizes emotional truth over plot mechanics will find much to admire.
The book’s greatest achievement lies in its honest portrayal of a woman grappling with the gap between expectation and reality. Thomas-Kennedy refuses to judge her protagonist, instead creating space for readers to understand Zuzu’s choices even when they cannot necessarily endorse them. This compassionate approach to flawed characters marks the author as a writer capable of genuine empathy and psychological insight.
The Other Wife announces Thomas-Kennedy as a significant new voice in contemporary literary fiction, offering a nuanced exploration of identity, desire, and the choices that define our lives. While not without its flaws, the novel provides a thoughtful and ultimately moving portrait of a woman learning to reckon with the life she has chosen to live.