Study Guide

EDIT: I just learned that the author is a TERF, as such I can't recommend this book or suggest supporting her work. I'll leave my original, uninformed review below.

A feminist speculative short story ironically featuring two men as the protagonists. The plot examines the lives, thoughts, actions, and interactions of these two old friends as they spend a day together navigating a heteromatriarchal world that is just as oppressive as our current heteropatriarchal one.

The role reversal at the center of the story does a magnificent job of bringing forth both the banal and extreme forms of repression and alienation that manifest under heteropatriarchy. But as during the course of the story, these events are experienced by men, the oppressively mundane suddenly becomes the outrageously absurd. As a cis male, I found this story engaging, thought-provoking, and inspiring of reflection. I agree with those who say the ending could have been stronger, but overall, I would recommend this quick, impactful read.

Note:
I read the audiobook format of this book, so my review is based from that.

Well, here goes and my apologies to the author in advance.

This story was just beyond words and not of the take my breath away kind. It's more like the I'm speechless because I have no idea what to say regarding this book.

Spoiler moment:
The plot of this story was just so unbelievable in so many ways. Like seriously, your ass is unconscious and buried in sand, so how are you going to all of a sudden get up and be able to stock the people that hurt you. Like I get some stories have some, WTH, moments that leave you shaking your head or wondering what the heck will happen next, but things just get worse from here.

Now granted there are some that definitely like this story, but I definitely am not one of them and here's why.

Who in their right mind would go along with this set up that the dead, but not dead guy comes up with? When he finally confronts his killers you think he'd ask for something that makes sense, right?

Nope, wrong answer! He gives them no choice but to go along with this messed up plan of his. And, and, to make matters even more screwed up Cynthia starts to feel sorry for the dead, but not dead guy!

I'll stop there because I don't want to throw in too many spoilers because then you may hate me for doing so, smiles. Who knows, you may end up being one that likes this story.

A good thing about The Drive By Wife is the narrator Mark Torres. He has a great reading voice for this book and that's what held my attention and kept me reading until the end to see how things turned out. This is one of those cases where the narrator drives the book.

In fact, I think Mark Torres would have been another great narrator for Mike's other book that I reviewed called Baby Talk.

Note 2:
I'm not sure how this look in print format but I believe the audio one is all of the books in this series. Some reviews I read said that this was a series and the books were very short, but I didn't find that with the audio format. Just something to be aware of in case you decide to check out this book and get the print or EBook format.

Well, onto my next read. Maybe one day I'll catch a Mike Wells book that catches my attention, smiles.

My thanks to Crystal Lake Publishing - I read this as an advance copy.

The book pulled me in quickly. I haven't been in high school in a good many years, but social outcast feelings learned in that environment tend to stick around as memories - and I thought the story did a good job of reinforcing those memories. I developed fast empathy for the POV character (Jeff) and his plight at not only appearing wildly different from all of his fellow students, but also going through physical changes that seemed sure to drive an even larger wedge between him and them.

The first half of the story builds a compelling story: a social outcast bullied for his appearance, the discovery of an ally, budding romantic feelings - all things that add up to good YA fiction. The second half shifts everything into high gear, and characters feel as if they are acting out: unexpected racism, homophobia, and quickly escalating violence that erupts in a final bloodbath.

I'm left with mixed feelings. I found the horror elements as well-crafted as the setup, but the end result was losing my empathy for the protagonist - I liked the elements of the story, but less so the whole. While I might understand Jeff cracking under the pressure he was forced to endure, I also wanted some reason in the end to find him something more than a monster. Instead, it is a different character who travels that path from monster to redemption - and for him I felt no empathy at all.

As a horror lover and frequent reader of historical fiction nothing could pique my interest quicker than a story of witchcraft in the 1700s. It brought to mind the Witch movie by Robert Eggers in that Isabella was not a witch when she was accused and tortured. What she was, was desperate. What wouldn't we do to keep a loved one healthy for a little bit longer? Isabella was desperate to keep her father among the living. She was desperate to be free of an unwanted marriage to a vile and foul excuse for a man. It seems the good and godly people of Blackfriar see nothing wrong in bearing false witness against her, as long as it serves their purpose. When her friends and neighbors turned their backs on her, she found acceptance elsewhere. Together with the Lady of the Hill she will seek her revenge on those who have tormented her, and I can still hear their screams!

I received an advance copy for review.