Somebody’s Wife: A Deeper Look into Romance and Identity

Book: Somebody’s Wife

Author: Robbi Renee

Published: October 20, 2022

Wine/ Other Drink Choice:   King Maui Pinot Noir Wine/ Uncle Nearest 1884 Whiskey

Stand Alone, Series, or Other: Series

Type of book: Novel

Genre: Romance; Drama

How long did it take me to read this book:   2 months (Thank you, Spotify)

Audible/Google audiobooks/Spotify: Spotify Premium

Overall rating: 🍷🍷🍷.5 out of five wine glasses

*I wrote this review and forgot about it.

I got this book suggestion from Shelbey and the Book Club: https://www.youtube.com/@shelbeyandthebookclub. A lot of my spice books came from her recommendations, last year.  If you can, go to her YouTube channel; it’s fantastic. Most of the books I read in 2024 came from a recommendation from her vlogs.  Another book I read and listened to from her recommendation list was Robbi Renne’s “Somebody’s Wife.”  While reading this book and seeing other reviews, I realized a theme that most people noted was  Erykah Badu’s song “Next Lifetime.”  The chorus  “Now what am I supposed to do/
When I want you in my world/ How can I want you for myself/ When I’m already someone’s girl?”

Somebody’s Wife is a compelling romance novel about Dr. Ezekiel Green and Dr. Jemma Holiday. We open the book with Jemma, at the start of the book is in college, when she meets her future husband. From there, we, fast-forward 20 years. Well, married life is no longer romantic and charming. Jemma is introduced to Dr. Ezekiel Green, who gives Jemma a glimpse of what she has been missing with her husband. As the story unfolds, you realize there are sprinkles of cautionary tales of losing your identity in relationships.  The book is an intense look into what happens when you and your partner don’t grow together. When you realize that you ignored your feelings to keep the status quo or a relationship alive when it’s over, I enjoy all the characters, even the “bad guys.” All the characters played a part and moved the story forward. I particularly enjoyed Jemma’s journey to find herself again as she navigates the trials of being a mature adult.

One unique and intriguing aspect of this book is the portrayal of older individuals falling in love and a second chance romance with older women. In many romance novels, the main characters are in their 20s, maybe early 30s, but in this book, the main characters are in their late 30s or even early 40s  and have lived life.  All the characters have experienced the pains of life (death, health issues, divorce, and so much more). As the story unfolds, you can see how these experiences have shaped how they react to situations, communicate their needs, and generally show how to build healthy relationships and boundaries.

If you decide to read this book, pair it with a King Maui Pinot Noir. Now, hear me out. This has more body but a nice overall flavor. Its hints of berries (primarily strawberries) are acidic but complement Jemma’s personality.  She is sweet, sassy, and direct but empathic. King Maui Pinot Noire is dry, has strawberry and herbal notes, and has a light to medium body.  Order some delicious BBQ if you are in Baltimore. Try Southern and Smoked or Blue Pit BBQ & Whiskey Bar. Now, maybe you should sip on some whiskey for this book, and if that is the case, then you need to enjoy Uncle Nearest  1884 whiskey; it is smooth and has a rich flavor, plus it is a black-owned- woman-owned whiskey brand.   You can do a red wine or whiskey and sip while you read about Dr. Jemma Holiday’s exploration to find herself.

So, grab a glass of King Maui Pinot Noir, or perhaps a sip of Uncle Nearest 1884 Whiskey, and immerse yourself in the world of Dr. Jemma Holiday. I hope you enjoy this blog!  Get some BBQ and whiskey and pick up this book.

Until Next Time,

Che Michelle

Also, it took me two months to read this book because I ran out of time in October using Spotify Premium and didn’t get a chance to reread it until November when my time was renewed.