54 pages • 1 hour read
Julia ArmfieldOur Wives Under the Sea
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2022A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Julia Armfield’s debut novel Our Wives Under the Sea, main characters Miri and Leah tell the story of their relationship, and its end, through alternating narratives. Leah, a marine biologist, returns six months late from a deep-sea expedition trapped in a submarine, and her physical and emotional transformation strains their marriage. The novel depicts graphic body horror and death, as well as mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Julia Armfield's Our Wives Under the Sea receives praise for its poetic and haunting prose, as well as its poignant exploration of love and grief. Critics appreciate the unique blend of horror and romance, though some feel the narrative's slow pace may not appeal to all readers. Overall, it's a compelling, emotionally resonant read.
Who Should Read Our Wives Under the Sea?
A reader who would enjoy Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield likely appreciates atmospheric and introspective storytelling with a blend of surrealism and emotional depth. Fans of Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman or Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado will find resonant themes and a captivating, eerie narrative.