The Wives

A Memoir

By: Simone Gorrindo

Narrated by: Simone Gorrindo

“[Simone] Gorrindo’s prose is inviting and fluid, and her storytelling is intimate and vivid...[an] engaging, evocative memoir.” —The New York Times Book Review
“A hopeful, unifying memoir.” —People

This profoundly intimate memoir about marriage, friendship, and the power of human connection tells the story of one woman’s experience of joining a community of army wives after leaving her New York City job.

When her new husband joins an elite Army unit, Simone Gorrindo is uprooted from New York City and dropped into Columbus, Georgia. With her husband frequently deployed, Simone is left to find her place in this new world, alone—until she meets the wives.

Gorrindo gives us an intimate look into the inner lives of a remarkable group of women and a tender, unflinching portrait of a marriage. A love story, an unforgettable coming-of-age tale, and a bracing tour of the intractable divisions that plague our country today, The Wives offers a rare and powerful gift: a hopeful stitch in the fabric of a torn America.

Critic reviews

"Gorrindo’s narration captures her loneliness, fear, and constant hope for late-night phone calls, as well as military briefings, and the stress of being pregnant while her husband is overseas. Gorrindo’s deadpan humor shines through as she tells her own story."

Absolutely Beauitful

I knew very little about the military before reading this book, but I cried probably 7 times. Simone is a beautiful storyteller and hearing her narrate her own book was gorgeously intimate. An absolute must read/listen.

Captivating

This memoir was captivating. I enjoyed getting a glimpse into the life of an army wife and the friendships that are created on base. The performance aspect is the audiobook was a little lacking in my opinion as it was very monotone and as if she was reading a script instead of telling the story herself.

Really well done

I truly enjoyed this book, I wish there was a series. It kept me engaged the whole time.

War, Wives, Sisterhood and Survival

They say you can't go home again, but The Wives proved me wrong. A place of such familiarity, even the mounting anxiety welling up in my body felt like a comforting cocoon. I knew the cycle of deployment all too well. The painstaking beginning, the mundane middle and the excruciating end. I couldn't stop reading. I knew I had to keep pushing forward, knowing the inherent transformation happening in the suffering. There's no shortage of stories on the bonds of brotherhood in arms. But the story of the sisterhood of the wives, a war story equally its own form of survival, so often goes untold. Thank you, Simone Gorrindo, for giving the world a glimpse into the lives behind the brown fences.

Genuine, heartfelt and raw

Genuine, heartfelt, raw account of her own experiences as a military wife today. So real. Keep writing! Thank you for sharing and while I read that part about thank you for your service—thank you both for your service!