Queen of Women’s Fiction: Read Our Review of The Work Wives by Rachael Johns

The latest novel by bestselling, ABIA award-winning author Rachael Johns will make you laugh, cry and wonder what secrets your friends are keeping!

For work wives Debra and Quinn, it’s a case of opposites attract. They are each other’s lifelines as they navigate office politics and jobs that pay the bills but don’t inspire them.

Outside work, they are also friends, but where Quinn is addicted to dating apps and desperate to find love, Deb has sworn off men. Although Deb is not close to her own mother, her teenage daughter is her life and there’s nothing she wouldn’t do to protect her. But Ramona has other ideas and is beginning to push boundaries.

Life becomes even more complicated by the arrival of a new man at the office. One woman is attracted to him, while the other hoped she’d never meet him again.

But when Deb, Quinn and Ramona are forced to choose between friends, love and family, the ramifications run deeper than they could ever have expected.

Rachael Johns is the bestselling, award-winning author of books like The Patterson Girls, The Art of Keeping Secrets, The Greatest Gift, Lost Without You, Just One Wish, Something to Talk About, Flying the Nest and How to Mend a Broken Heart. She’s a mainstay on all of Australia’s annual favourites lists. Two of her books made our Better Reading Top 100 list this year alone! With each new release, I think there’s no way she can possibly top the last. But she does. Every time. Rachael’s books are tightly written, perfectly plotted and filled with relatable characters and storylines. She always has a fresh, modern take on the genre.

In Work Wives she’s delivered three fabulous female protagonists. Quinn Paladino and Debra Fast met through work and are close. Quinn is in her twenties and dating, while single mum Debra is working through some past trauma and focussing on her teenage daughter Ramona. I particularly enjoyed the mother-daughter dynamic, and Ramona is a great character. While the story is told from all three perspectives, Ramona was a standout for me.

The story incorporates themes of bullying, abuse and trauma, but as always with Rachael’s books, is held together with all the great ingredients that make women’s relationships so special.

Rachael Johns is delivering great title after title, with so much more to come. Work Wives is another great read, perfect for the summer holidays.

Buy a copy of The Work Wives here.