Book Review: "The Hunting Wives" by May Cobb

Is it feeling soapy, steamy, and dramatic in here or is it just me? No, it's May Cobb's new book, The Hunting Wives.

Thanks to my friend Phil for buddy reading this one with me. As with our last buddy read, I think our discussion was even better than the book itself!

Sophie was a high-powered magazine editor in Chicago, trying to balance a career and raise a young son with her husband, Graham, when she felt they needed a simpler life. She and Graham decide to move to the small Texas town of Mapleton, where Sophie spent her last two years of high school before going away to college.

Of course, small-town life is now incredibly boring, and Sophie longs for some excitement. It’s not long before she is pulled into the orbit of Margot, a glamorous, wealthy socialite, and her group of friends. Sophie is excited to join their secret Friday night group for skeet shooting, but she quickly finds out that the women, with Margot as their ringleader, do more than just shooting. Some weeks they decide to go to out-of-the-way bars and flirt with men...and that’s just the start.

Sophie finds herself becoming increasingly obsessed with Margot and seeking her approval. When she lavishes her attention on Sophie and draws her into her web of illicit encounters, Sophie feels tantalized and alive, but she knows everything is sliding out of control. And when a young woman winds up dead, Sophie quickly realizes how dangerous loyalty and jealousy can be.

The Hunting Wives definitely had a Desperate Housewives or Real Housewives feel to it, and that was the element I enjoyed the most. Even the partying and flirting and hookups were deliciously soapy (although some creeped me out until I realized what the age of consent is in Texas).

The thing is, this book is billed as a thriller and it really isn’t. There are mystery elements that I thought were the weaker link in the book, because that was where the plot seemed to drag a little for me, and there were a few loose ends that never got resolved.

But all in all, this was a fun read, and as someone who grew up with soap operas (and still tunes in from time to time), I enjoyed the vibe.

The book will be released 5/18!