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Sister Wife: A Memoir of Faith, Family, and Finding Freedom
From TLC’s Sister Wives star Christine Brown Woolley, a groundbreaking and heartfelt memoir about living in a family like no other and finding the strength to leave Mormonism—and the only life she’s known—behind.
Christine Brown Woolley had always dreamed of having a picture-perfect family—beautiful children, an adoring husband, and of course, a sisterhood of wives to share him with. Raised in Utah by practicing polygamists, Christine knew her life was less than normal, but that didn’t stop her from loving the full house of her childhood any less.
Becoming Kody Brown’s third wife in 1994, Christine finally found the big, happy family she had hoped for. When TLC’s hit show Sister Wives premiered in 2010, Christine knew it was her chance to shine a light on the brighter side of polygamy—the helping hands, the lively discussions, and their unmatched devotion to each other. But the cameras also revealed a much darker truth.
Now, in this candid tell-all, Christine shares for the first time the journey that led her away from the Morman church and the bold path she is carving to live apart from all she has ever known. Moving, genuine, and insightful, this is a uniquely powerful tour de force of Christine’s journey toward and beyond her time in the spotlight as a sister wife.
Christine Brown Woolley had always dreamed of having a picture-perfect family—beautiful children, an adoring husband, and of course, a sisterhood of wives to share him with. Raised in Utah by practicing polygamists, Christine knew her life was less than normal, but that didn’t stop her from loving the full house of her childhood any less.
Becoming Kody Brown’s third wife in 1994, Christine finally found the big, happy family she had hoped for. When TLC’s hit show Sister Wives premiered in 2010, Christine knew it was her chance to shine a light on the brighter side of polygamy—the helping hands, the lively discussions, and their unmatched devotion to each other. But the cameras also revealed a much darker truth.
Now, in this candid tell-all, Christine shares for the first time the journey that led her away from the Morman church and the bold path she is carving to live apart from all she has ever known. Moving, genuine, and insightful, this is a uniquely powerful tour de force of Christine’s journey toward and beyond her time in the spotlight as a sister wife.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published September 2, 2025
2358 people are currently reading
12570 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,834 reviews
September 2, 2025
Imagine fumbling this QUEEN
September 3, 2025
I listened to the audiobook - at under 9 hours, it was an easy listen.
Christine Brown of Sister Wives writes about her early childhood, marriage with Kody, her real feelings about Robyn, and her growth and changes over the last 2 decades. I’ve heard some people say outside of the shocking parts about their sex life, the book isn’t that interesting, but I appreciated hearing more about her childhood, her relationship with her mother, her experiences using alcohol and pain medication to numb her emotions, and Kody’s unrelenting greed and selfishness.
Listen up Kody: when your daughter who you abandoned when she is about to have major back surgery asks over the phone to sing for her, YOU FUCKING SING.
Christine Brown of Sister Wives writes about her early childhood, marriage with Kody, her real feelings about Robyn, and her growth and changes over the last 2 decades. I’ve heard some people say outside of the shocking parts about their sex life, the book isn’t that interesting, but I appreciated hearing more about her childhood, her relationship with her mother, her experiences using alcohol and pain medication to numb her emotions, and Kody’s unrelenting greed and selfishness.
Listen up Kody: when your daughter who you abandoned when she is about to have major back surgery asks over the phone to sing for her, YOU FUCKING SING.
August 28, 2025
I’ve been a fan of the show since it aired. I feel like I know this family and watching the journey that Christine has been through has been very inspiring. I loved hearing her insights and her honest pouring out of her truth. I finished this book in record time. I really hope Janelle will also write a book! But mostly I’m glad these woman found their peace away from a really toxic man.
August 31, 2025
If I didn’t hate Kody in seasons 1-19, I detest him now!
August 31, 2025
Obsessed doesn’t even begin to explain reading this book in less than 24 hours after it arrived on my doorstep. Christine was gracious with her stories, but also respectful of her sister wives stories. With love by her side and her friendship with Janelle strong, she was ready to tell it. And I was ready to read it all.
September 20, 2025
If you thought Kody was bad while watching the show, just wait until you read this book...I'm glad Christine and the other wives (minus Robyn) are free of him.
There's a lot of background info that puts some things into perspective, and I found myself going "oh no he didn't" more often than not, this man is ridiculous!!
The book was so good though, the audio kept my attention throughout and I love that it's read by the author. It's clear that Christine could've written 500+ pages of Kody being terrible, but she chose not to, and I respect that.
Now I'm going to need Janelle and Mary to write a book, and maybe some of the kids, if they feel like it in the future. As for Christine, I hope she has only sunshine filled days ahead of her.
There's a lot of background info that puts some things into perspective, and I found myself going "oh no he didn't" more often than not, this man is ridiculous!!
The book was so good though, the audio kept my attention throughout and I love that it's read by the author. It's clear that Christine could've written 500+ pages of Kody being terrible, but she chose not to, and I respect that.
Now I'm going to need Janelle and Mary to write a book, and maybe some of the kids, if they feel like it in the future. As for Christine, I hope she has only sunshine filled days ahead of her.
October 21, 2025
A slow burn that never quite caught fire
While the premise was promising, I found the book tedious and repetitive, and I really struggled to stay engaged with this one.
The execution falls flat due to excessive repetition and a lack of narrative momentum. I found the author revisits the same themes so often that the story loses impact. A tighter edit could have made a much stronger read. I would have thrown in the towel by the halfway stage if this hadn't been a book club read, and I needed to finish in order to discuss this book.
Having read The 19th Wife some years ago I was interested to read a nonfiction book on polygamy, but this just felt like a bad soap opera.
While the premise was promising, I found the book tedious and repetitive, and I really struggled to stay engaged with this one.
The execution falls flat due to excessive repetition and a lack of narrative momentum. I found the author revisits the same themes so often that the story loses impact. A tighter edit could have made a much stronger read. I would have thrown in the towel by the halfway stage if this hadn't been a book club read, and I needed to finish in order to discuss this book.
Having read The 19th Wife some years ago I was interested to read a nonfiction book on polygamy, but this just felt like a bad soap opera.
September 4, 2025
I adore reality television. Thinkest thou me vapid?? Probably thou thinkest right. But for me, an introvert and chronic people-watcher by nature, the drama and non-interactive spectacle of shamelessness on display make for perfect background noise when I grade or work on academic writing.
Don’t get me wrong, I know it’s toxic and can be harmful. But (as I learned from a reality television episode recently) over 200 Americans die each year from toaster-related accidents, and that hasn’t stopped my bedtime buttered toast habit!
Let’s just say, if I ever decide to become a more morally stringent person I’ll probably start by going vegetarian and keep enjoying my reality TV. Anyway 👀 while my favorite memoirs come from tennis players (Andre Agassi), pianists (Jeremy Denk), and ballerinas (Ahmad Joudeh)—along with cult-and-other-trauma survivors (honestly I sound weird even to myself)—occasionally I am invested enough in a reality star to read their godawful, ghost-written “tell-all” (usually in name only; really most amount to little more than a “tell-a-little-and-then-advertise-new-kitschy-commercial-product-a-lot”). On average these have a similar effect cognitively to inhaling bleach. But sometimes they are also fascinating. One good example is Real Housewife Heather Gay’s Bad Mormon, which is really, truly written in her voice (whether actually by her or by a ghostwriter with uncanny parrotting powers, we’ll never know) and an interesting look at her life in the church.
Turns out, this one is similar to Heather’s: it really seems to be written in Sister Wives’ own Christine’s actual voice, and it’s really quite vulnerable. I personally learned a lot about “normal” Utah polygamists (ie, the ones that don’t marry off children or live in compounds or end up on Oprah or America’s Most Wanted). I feel like I better understand why some women choose that religion and lifestyle. And I feel like I got to witness one woman’s journey away from polygamy and her narcissistic husband (turns out, both monogamy and polygamy have those guys).
Now. Was this well-written? In a glorified-blog-post kind of way, yes! (Actually though, if Christine, who is not a writer, wrote it, all the props to her.) Was it memorable? No! Was it worth the money I gave Jeff Bezos for it (along with my integrity; thanks capitalism)? No! Do I still find myself here at midnight-30 while waiting for migraine medication to kick in, loopily writing a five paragraph review? Yes!
Make that six paragraphs. TLDR: read this if you watch Sister Wives. If you don’t, please don’t unfollow me. I promise to review something better tomorrow—and if I don’t, I’m probably just catching up on the Great British Bake-Off or old reruns of What Not to Wear.
Don’t get me wrong, I know it’s toxic and can be harmful. But (as I learned from a reality television episode recently) over 200 Americans die each year from toaster-related accidents, and that hasn’t stopped my bedtime buttered toast habit!
Let’s just say, if I ever decide to become a more morally stringent person I’ll probably start by going vegetarian and keep enjoying my reality TV. Anyway 👀 while my favorite memoirs come from tennis players (Andre Agassi), pianists (Jeremy Denk), and ballerinas (Ahmad Joudeh)—along with cult-and-other-trauma survivors (honestly I sound weird even to myself)—occasionally I am invested enough in a reality star to read their godawful, ghost-written “tell-all” (usually in name only; really most amount to little more than a “tell-a-little-and-then-advertise-new-kitschy-commercial-product-a-lot”). On average these have a similar effect cognitively to inhaling bleach. But sometimes they are also fascinating. One good example is Real Housewife Heather Gay’s Bad Mormon, which is really, truly written in her voice (whether actually by her or by a ghostwriter with uncanny parrotting powers, we’ll never know) and an interesting look at her life in the church.
Turns out, this one is similar to Heather’s: it really seems to be written in Sister Wives’ own Christine’s actual voice, and it’s really quite vulnerable. I personally learned a lot about “normal” Utah polygamists (ie, the ones that don’t marry off children or live in compounds or end up on Oprah or America’s Most Wanted). I feel like I better understand why some women choose that religion and lifestyle. And I feel like I got to witness one woman’s journey away from polygamy and her narcissistic husband (turns out, both monogamy and polygamy have those guys).
Now. Was this well-written? In a glorified-blog-post kind of way, yes! (Actually though, if Christine, who is not a writer, wrote it, all the props to her.) Was it memorable? No! Was it worth the money I gave Jeff Bezos for it (along with my integrity; thanks capitalism)? No! Do I still find myself here at midnight-30 while waiting for migraine medication to kick in, loopily writing a five paragraph review? Yes!
Make that six paragraphs. TLDR: read this if you watch Sister Wives. If you don’t, please don’t unfollow me. I promise to review something better tomorrow—and if I don’t, I’m probably just catching up on the Great British Bake-Off or old reruns of What Not to Wear.
September 2, 2025
There's a lot of tea flooding out from Utah this morning.
The book's been out for roughly 9 hours at the time of this writing, and there are already people on reddit complaining that it doesn't have any "gotcha!" moments, but I'm not sure those people and I are reading the same thing...because there's some definite zingers in here. (They're all spoilers, so forgive me if I'm vague here.)
If you're a "Sister Wives" watcher who reads this book, you're probably going to fall into one of two camps:
1) the side who reads it avidly and with semi-warm feelings for Christine, who will find lots of little places where things you saw in the show suddenly have some context, and you will want to light Kody's little curlicue demon horns on actual fire once you realize he's been a giant douchecanoe since roughly day one, and,
2) the side who reads it avidly with no great like for Christine, who will think it didn't go far enough and will gripe about everything she says, picking it apart so it fits your narrative better.
Either way, it'll be loads of fun for you, even if #2 is wrong. :D
Because here's the thing: it's a book, and a story, about a human. Humans aren't just one-dimensional, perfectly logical creatures. There's going to be conflicting emotions about things like a culty upbringing and a thirty year marriage to a narcissist. A human being can know intellectually that their idyllic childhood was in the confines of a belief system that wasn't all that great to other humans, and that your grandfather was murdered by psychotic brainwashed women in plyg buns....but still revere the sense of family and love they experienced within it. That's not being duplicitous or delusional or lying...it's being human. Same with knowing your self-absorbed, misogynistic husband is a giant loser dickweed, but also acknowledging that you loved him and sometimes (rarely) he was a good father. The two aren't mutually exclusive. You can have both emotions/reactions/opinions.
So if you're unable to give Christine the grace of being human, you're probably going to end up in Camp Two, ruthlessly picking it apart while simultaneously griping that she didn't give enough details. Just so you know that before you pick it up.
But for those of us in #teamChristine, there are a LOT of details in there that we didn't know for sure. That we speculated about, but didn't have official confirmation of -- some of which are enough to write off the manipulative self-styled power couple and book them a one-way passage to a planet full of alligators and no hair gel or bad cruise ship art.
I'm sure there's more than is even here, since she IS still employed by TLC, and has to be a tiny bit careful not to stomp all over production's toes. Be prepared in advance to skirt around those kinds of things, because I'd rather not have some details if it means Christine's not getting sued by the network...and cross my fingers that once the show ends for good, those kids are going to get reeeeal open, reeeeal fast. (tiny not-all-that-spoiler for example: that last few pages where she mentions that Mykelti is estranged from the dastardly duo? I want more about this. WHY? WHAT DID THEY DO?? I'm hoping the omission of explanation is because it'll either be on-screen next season or on-page once the kids start writing their own accounts. I. Am. Intrigued.)
Anyway, the TL;DR of this is twofold: first, I'm a nerd who watches like three reality shows and apparently is reeeeaally into this one, moreso than even I thought I was, and two, that it's a satisfying companion to the show and contains a few good bits that should have been in the tell-alls of the relevant seasons, if the producers weren't so bullseye-ed in on telling a certain story.
It's worth a read for watchers, and is probably a wee bit specific for non-watchers, but is still wholly entertaining.
The book's been out for roughly 9 hours at the time of this writing, and there are already people on reddit complaining that it doesn't have any "gotcha!" moments, but I'm not sure those people and I are reading the same thing...because there's some definite zingers in here. (They're all spoilers, so forgive me if I'm vague here.)
If you're a "Sister Wives" watcher who reads this book, you're probably going to fall into one of two camps:
1) the side who reads it avidly and with semi-warm feelings for Christine, who will find lots of little places where things you saw in the show suddenly have some context, and you will want to light Kody's little curlicue demon horns on actual fire once you realize he's been a giant douchecanoe since roughly day one, and,
2) the side who reads it avidly with no great like for Christine, who will think it didn't go far enough and will gripe about everything she says, picking it apart so it fits your narrative better.
Either way, it'll be loads of fun for you, even if #2 is wrong. :D
Because here's the thing: it's a book, and a story, about a human. Humans aren't just one-dimensional, perfectly logical creatures. There's going to be conflicting emotions about things like a culty upbringing and a thirty year marriage to a narcissist. A human being can know intellectually that their idyllic childhood was in the confines of a belief system that wasn't all that great to other humans, and that your grandfather was murdered by psychotic brainwashed women in plyg buns....but still revere the sense of family and love they experienced within it. That's not being duplicitous or delusional or lying...it's being human. Same with knowing your self-absorbed, misogynistic husband is a giant loser dickweed, but also acknowledging that you loved him and sometimes (rarely) he was a good father. The two aren't mutually exclusive. You can have both emotions/reactions/opinions.
So if you're unable to give Christine the grace of being human, you're probably going to end up in Camp Two, ruthlessly picking it apart while simultaneously griping that she didn't give enough details. Just so you know that before you pick it up.
But for those of us in #teamChristine, there are a LOT of details in there that we didn't know for sure. That we speculated about, but didn't have official confirmation of -- some of which are enough to write off the manipulative self-styled power couple and book them a one-way passage to a planet full of alligators and no hair gel or bad cruise ship art.
I'm sure there's more than is even here, since she IS still employed by TLC, and has to be a tiny bit careful not to stomp all over production's toes. Be prepared in advance to skirt around those kinds of things, because I'd rather not have some details if it means Christine's not getting sued by the network...and cross my fingers that once the show ends for good, those kids are going to get reeeeal open, reeeeal fast. (tiny not-all-that-spoiler for example: that last few pages where she mentions that Mykelti is estranged from the dastardly duo? I want more about this. WHY? WHAT DID THEY DO?? I'm hoping the omission of explanation is because it'll either be on-screen next season or on-page once the kids start writing their own accounts. I. Am. Intrigued.)
Anyway, the TL;DR of this is twofold: first, I'm a nerd who watches like three reality shows and apparently is reeeeaally into this one, moreso than even I thought I was, and two, that it's a satisfying companion to the show and contains a few good bits that should have been in the tell-alls of the relevant seasons, if the producers weren't so bullseye-ed in on telling a certain story.
It's worth a read for watchers, and is probably a wee bit specific for non-watchers, but is still wholly entertaining.
October 2, 2025
4.0 Stars
As a long term (but casual) viewer of this reality TV show, I felt compelled to read this memoir. It was interesting to read her story even though it had a limited perspective with clear omissions. I wish it had dived deeper in places but I understand why it didn't.
As a long term (but casual) viewer of this reality TV show, I felt compelled to read this memoir. It was interesting to read her story even though it had a limited perspective with clear omissions. I wish it had dived deeper in places but I understand why it didn't.
Read
September 4, 2025I've recently learned to not rate memoirs (who am I to judge someone's personal story?!), but I really enjoyed this one and read is within a few hours. It's in the voice of Christine Brown Woolley so ghostwriter or not, it sounds just like her! I don't think there was much to be told that Christine hasn't filled us in on after divorcing Kody, and she plays nice with Robyn and Meri in it, but overall I really enjoyed it. I am happy for her!
September 8, 2025
I am a frequent watcher of the sister wives saga. Christine is such a powerful force and very inspirational! Her setting the course for her life was one of the best decisions she could have made for HER family. This book is proof of this. Kept me intrigued the whole time and loved the extra details that weren’t shown in the Tlc show!
September 26, 2025
If Kody Brown has no haters, then it means I am dead!!! I love women and I love when they fall in love with themselves and start realizing they’re amazing!!!
September 4, 2025
I was super excited for this memoir and to read about things that happened early on especially but it didn't meet my expectation. 8 chapters were spent on 16 years of marriage before the show and I feel like a lot of opportunities to share what happened were missed. Continuing on it just felt like she was reading the script from the TV series as nothing new was shared. I hope the other wives open up a bit more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2025
4 stars I’ve been watching Sisterwives since the beginning so nothing in this book was that surprising to me. I was however pretty blown away by how much more horrible Kody was than I previously thought. Let me be clear, I knew this man was awful but it’s so so much worse. Christine’s story of religious deconstruction, healing and moving on to find happiness was truly moving. I’m glad she’s now living the life she deserves. I recommend the audiobook version. I felt like I was just hanging out with Christine while she told her story in her calming voice. Listen on 2x speed. Our girl is a bit of a slow talker.
September 8, 2025
Save your money and check this one out at the library , there is nothing here we don’t already know , nonetheless I regret spending my 9 dollars on it , but it was on sale , I’m actually in shock , this is what she had to say ? Just the same thing we’ve watched on tv the last three years written in book form ? I like Christine but the book was a money grab
September 5, 2025
This book was an easy read. As a long time fan of the show I came here for the same reasons all of us did. I am not a Christine fan or a Christine hater. I am not a fan of any of the wives or Kody to be perfectly honest. I knew going in this would be told in somewhat of an unreliable narrator fashion, as is often the case with memoirs, I find anyways. I also knew Christine wasn’t a seasoned author and expected the writing to reflect that in its “tone”. The book sounded every bit Christine so I feel it was very true to herself. These are the only compliments I can give it.
What I didn’t expect was just how poorly written this book would be. A lot of errors, a lot of disjointed, seemingly incomplete thoughts and meandering. A lot of fluff and filler. Very much in the TLC style of things. This is just an okay cash grab by a reality tv personality. I wanted to be gripped by a genuine, authentic, and candid behind the scenes look at the life of “polygamist royalty” (I joke don’t come for me). Instead what I got was lukewarm tea served in a slightly dirty cup. I suspect this was mostly just for Christine to na-na na-na boo-boo (and do I really begrudge her that? No, not really). Still. I’d have loved the queen of authenticity to be a tad more….authentic.
Are we owed her private and personal thoughts and pains and struggles? Of course we aren’t. However, I have to wonder what the point of this memoir even was if it wasn’t to delve deep. I’m left with cash grab. Which is actually very on brand for the Brown (now Woolley) family. It was an okay fluff piece to stir up attention and funds. I didn’t hate it. I didn’t love it. I was left wanting more. Same old same old, I fear.
What I didn’t expect was just how poorly written this book would be. A lot of errors, a lot of disjointed, seemingly incomplete thoughts and meandering. A lot of fluff and filler. Very much in the TLC style of things. This is just an okay cash grab by a reality tv personality. I wanted to be gripped by a genuine, authentic, and candid behind the scenes look at the life of “polygamist royalty” (I joke don’t come for me). Instead what I got was lukewarm tea served in a slightly dirty cup. I suspect this was mostly just for Christine to na-na na-na boo-boo (and do I really begrudge her that? No, not really). Still. I’d have loved the queen of authenticity to be a tad more….authentic.
Are we owed her private and personal thoughts and pains and struggles? Of course we aren’t. However, I have to wonder what the point of this memoir even was if it wasn’t to delve deep. I’m left with cash grab. Which is actually very on brand for the Brown (now Woolley) family. It was an okay fluff piece to stir up attention and funds. I didn’t hate it. I didn’t love it. I was left wanting more. Same old same old, I fear.
Read
September 22, 2025Made me want to give Kody a knuckle sandwich
August 29, 2025
Heartbreaking but Christine is such a strong amazing woman and I loved hearing her side of the story and getting lots of behind the scenes details of the show! Part of the book felt like it was a retelling of the show but then she would sprinkle in some little secret or tidbit that hadn’t been shared before!
September 24, 2025
Living with 18 children, 3 sister wives, and a self-centered, emotionally abusive man who looks and whines like a far less cute version of The Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz? It could not have been easy. However, listening to this well-executed - and truly excellently narrated by the author - memoir was a breeze!
I am in many ways the perfect audience for this book: I saw a couple episodes of the first season of Sister Wives way back when it started, and I was genuinely intrigued by it due to an interest in learning more about the lives of women from different religious faith backgrounds. However, I wasn’t about to invest hours a month keeping up with a TLC reality show (and that’s even before I knew there would be a ton of seasons and episodes), and I also knew I wouldn’t be able to continue to tolerate watching Kody’s behavior and pretending like all THAT was okay.
Christine always stood out to me as the most human adult of the bunch, like a Cousin Marilyn on The Munsters, and so I enjoyed the opportunity to hear her perspective about her life and family in the years before, during, and after she participated in the show. I found her refreshing, grounded, independent, straightforward, funny, kind, and likable, and I loved hearing about her appreciation of her children and her enjoyment of being a mom. I also liked learning about her evolving religious and spiritual beliefs and practices, her improving self-confidence and self-esteem, and her growing ability to increasingly trust herself and to use her voice over time and during toxic relational circumstances that may have crushed the spirits of many.
This is a very NON-reality TV-esque, NON-sensationalist tea-spilling memoir; rather, it’s a NON-toxic autobiography of one very normal and relatable woman’s journey toward authenticity and self-acceptance.
I am in many ways the perfect audience for this book: I saw a couple episodes of the first season of Sister Wives way back when it started, and I was genuinely intrigued by it due to an interest in learning more about the lives of women from different religious faith backgrounds. However, I wasn’t about to invest hours a month keeping up with a TLC reality show (and that’s even before I knew there would be a ton of seasons and episodes), and I also knew I wouldn’t be able to continue to tolerate watching Kody’s behavior and pretending like all THAT was okay.
Christine always stood out to me as the most human adult of the bunch, like a Cousin Marilyn on The Munsters, and so I enjoyed the opportunity to hear her perspective about her life and family in the years before, during, and after she participated in the show. I found her refreshing, grounded, independent, straightforward, funny, kind, and likable, and I loved hearing about her appreciation of her children and her enjoyment of being a mom. I also liked learning about her evolving religious and spiritual beliefs and practices, her improving self-confidence and self-esteem, and her growing ability to increasingly trust herself and to use her voice over time and during toxic relational circumstances that may have crushed the spirits of many.
This is a very NON-reality TV-esque, NON-sensationalist tea-spilling memoir; rather, it’s a NON-toxic autobiography of one very normal and relatable woman’s journey toward authenticity and self-acceptance.
Read
October 23, 2025It was interesting to read about someone whose upbringing, belief, and lifestyle choices are so different from mine.
I enjoyed the first half more than the second half. Once you get a mental model of each character, the story becomes repetitive and predictable.
I enjoyed the first half more than the second half. Once you get a mental model of each character, the story becomes repetitive and predictable.
September 3, 2025
Beautifully written and graciously told.
September 2, 2025
This book was hard to put down. Christine's story is well known to long time viewers of Sister Wives like myself, but this book fills in the blanks on a few issues: her falling out with Meri, what being with Kody was like, and why it took so long for Isabelle to finally get surgery.
There's no acknowledgement that her income was through MLMs and pyramid schemes, just vague references to "clothing lines", which is disappointing.
Christine weaves a story that is generous to her enemies and heart-warming towards her loved ones.
There's no information that will be shocking to fans, but it's nice to hear Christine's voice outside of TLC and PuddleMonkey's editing.
It's not clear if there was a ghostwriter helping this time, but if so, they did an amazing job!
There's no acknowledgement that her income was through MLMs and pyramid schemes, just vague references to "clothing lines", which is disappointing.
Christine weaves a story that is generous to her enemies and heart-warming towards her loved ones.
There's no information that will be shocking to fans, but it's nice to hear Christine's voice outside of TLC and PuddleMonkey's editing.
It's not clear if there was a ghostwriter helping this time, but if so, they did an amazing job!
September 13, 2025
I listened to the audiobook.
Sister Wives is my guilty pleasure. I have watched and rewatched it from the start, and I feel like I know these people intimately.
If you are like me, this book is not for you. It is mostly a literal retelling of situations from the show, word by word.
There are only two new things I learned from Christine's memoir - Kody demanded massages before sex and Christine is related to Meryl Streep (which was mentioned in passing and without any context). Oh, and Ysabel was a very ugly baby. Well done, Christine!
The thing that annoyed me the most about the book was the saccharine descriptions of David and their relationship. It all sounds so naïve and insincere. I am amazed that a woman like Christine, who married soneone she barely knew once, went and did it twice. See how that goes.
Her talking about Garrison's passing actually made me angry because it wasn't about him, but a lecture on the dangers of addiction. It felt self-serving and cold.
The reading was over-performative for me and, again, struck me as insincere.
All in all, a big disappointment. This was written for money, not to give an honest account, and people are not stupid, they will see through it.
Sister Wives is my guilty pleasure. I have watched and rewatched it from the start, and I feel like I know these people intimately.
If you are like me, this book is not for you. It is mostly a literal retelling of situations from the show, word by word.
There are only two new things I learned from Christine's memoir - Kody demanded massages before sex and Christine is related to Meryl Streep (which was mentioned in passing and without any context). Oh, and Ysabel was a very ugly baby. Well done, Christine!
The thing that annoyed me the most about the book was the saccharine descriptions of David and their relationship. It all sounds so naïve and insincere. I am amazed that a woman like Christine, who married soneone she barely knew once, went and did it twice. See how that goes.
Her talking about Garrison's passing actually made me angry because it wasn't about him, but a lecture on the dangers of addiction. It felt self-serving and cold.
The reading was over-performative for me and, again, struck me as insincere.
All in all, a big disappointment. This was written for money, not to give an honest account, and people are not stupid, they will see through it.
September 12, 2025
Watched the earlier seasons. This was honest, open, and quick.
September 6, 2025
Christine deserves a fucking Nobel Peace Prize. I’ve been deeply invested in this family since I was a TLC obsessed middle-schooler and I’ve watched it allllllll. It made me SO happy to hear Christine talk about the joy she has created for herself by making some really hard choices. I’m so proud of her.
Christine could have been so much more brutal towards Kody in this book, rightfully so. But she was graciously authentic and kind about her experience with that dumpster fire of a man. She had her subtle digs here and there (small things like “but Kody didn’t have a favorite wife back then…” and the classic “what. does. the. nanny. DO??”) but god damn that man deserves whatever fiery hell he has waiting for him and I won’t be as sweet as Christine was about it.
I listened to her read this on audio and I finished it in one day. I loved it.
Christine could have been so much more brutal towards Kody in this book, rightfully so. But she was graciously authentic and kind about her experience with that dumpster fire of a man. She had her subtle digs here and there (small things like “but Kody didn’t have a favorite wife back then…” and the classic “what. does. the. nanny. DO??”) but god damn that man deserves whatever fiery hell he has waiting for him and I won’t be as sweet as Christine was about it.
I listened to her read this on audio and I finished it in one day. I loved it.
September 9, 2025
as an avid sw viewer sadly the tea is not tea-ing in this book, i expected her to reveal more. anyways; kody brown, the pearly gates of heaven are forever closed on your balding head.
September 4, 2025
I am a fan of the show so my view of the book might be different than that of non-viewers, but I thought this book was nearly perfect. The ghost writer did an amazing job helping Christine get her authorial voice true to life. Much of what was in the book I knew but there was enough new information or perspective to make it a worthwhile read. I do wish there had been more length and more stories, but that might be unique to my level of fandom.
Christine was obviously still holding back some ugly details probably to protect Janelle, and all their children's potential relationships with Kody, but we all know the things he's said and done to them could probably fill its own book. Like why are Robyn and Kody not talking to Mykelti now? But of course, we get it, she's an amazing mom that wants all their kids to have a good relationship with their father, and a great sister wife and friend to Janelle.
Christine was obviously still holding back some ugly details probably to protect Janelle, and all their children's potential relationships with Kody, but we all know the things he's said and done to them could probably fill its own book. Like why are Robyn and Kody not talking to Mykelti now? But of course, we get it, she's an amazing mom that wants all their kids to have a good relationship with their father, and a great sister wife and friend to Janelle.
September 5, 2025
Listened to the audiobook and it was an easy listen. Specifically to the audiobook, there were a few points I assume they stopped recording and started up again and it was a bit jarring for me.
To the content of the book, it felt like it was an overview of what was aired on the show for the most part, so not a ton of new information. It also felt like she glossed over a lot of things without getting deeper, and that might be because as she says herself that she looks at the positives of life.
The end also felt rushed, most of the book was about her 20+ year marriage and then just briefly at the end the last couple years since she decided to leave. I think this would have been better in a few years as she settled into her new life.
Finally, there were a few points that felt disjointed almost like she was selling things or sharing information that isn't really necessary for a memoir. The information about polygamy and the LDS was helpful to provide context into her background, but detailing weight loss and counting calories? Telling her experience would have been one thing, saying "studies show XYZ" just seemed out of place. Seemed a bit like filler that could have been filled with other stories of her journey.
Critiques aside, you could really tell how much she loves her family when she talks about them which was enjoyable. And she did open up about some of her struggles that I don't know if she opened up on the show which I appreciated.
To the content of the book, it felt like it was an overview of what was aired on the show for the most part, so not a ton of new information. It also felt like she glossed over a lot of things without getting deeper, and that might be because as she says herself that she looks at the positives of life.
The end also felt rushed, most of the book was about her 20+ year marriage and then just briefly at the end the last couple years since she decided to leave. I think this would have been better in a few years as she settled into her new life.
Finally, there were a few points that felt disjointed almost like she was selling things or sharing information that isn't really necessary for a memoir. The information about polygamy and the LDS was helpful to provide context into her background, but detailing weight loss and counting calories? Telling her experience would have been one thing, saying "studies show XYZ" just seemed out of place. Seemed a bit like filler that could have been filled with other stories of her journey.
Critiques aside, you could really tell how much she loves her family when she talks about them which was enjoyable. And she did open up about some of her struggles that I don't know if she opened up on the show which I appreciated.
September 4, 2025
Everything I hoped it would be and more! A truly excellent memoir; Christine is an incredible and inspiring human being.
What a gift she has given us in writing this graceful, vulnerable, and joyful account of her journey through this life. She is an absolute badass and I’m in awe of the way that she’s been able to finally fully choose herself and in doing so, has given herself the love and happiness she always deserved.
Also the relationship she has with Janelle is everything to me and I very much hope she does convince her to someday tell her own story.
What a gift she has given us in writing this graceful, vulnerable, and joyful account of her journey through this life. She is an absolute badass and I’m in awe of the way that she’s been able to finally fully choose herself and in doing so, has given herself the love and happiness she always deserved.
Also the relationship she has with Janelle is everything to me and I very much hope she does convince her to someday tell her own story.
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