Depths of Emotion: A Review of Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield
When a recommendation comes with the seal of approval from Florence Welch, it’s practically etched in stone that I have to dive into it. So, armed with a penchant for sapphic tales and a thirst for literary exploration, I embarked on a journey through Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield. This hauntingly beautiful novel isn’t just a piece of horror; it’s a profound meditation on grief, love, and the complexities of existence beneath the waves.
At its core, the story unfolds between Miri and Leah, a couple grappling with a catastrophic submarine accident that leaves Leah transformed—part human, part lingering memory. The title itself evokes a sense of dislocation, as we’re led through Miri’s perspective, the caregiver slowly losing the woman she once knew beneath layers of haunting silence and trauma. Armfield’s prose is a rich tapestry, one that evokes both a shiver and a tear, and her exploration of absence resonates deeply. As Miri reflects, “The thing about losing someone isn’t the loss but the absence of afterward,” a statement that encapsulates the novel’s poignant essence.
What struck me most was how Armfield crafts an emotional interrogation within a horror framework. The pacing is deliberate, allowing tension to grow like swell beneath the surface of the sea. Each chapter is interspersed with memories that feel like snapshots in a museum of their love, belying the stark contrast of Leah’s presence and the haunting void she leaves. With a backdrop of chilling yet beautiful imagery, one can almost hear the waves crashing against the vessel of their relationship.
Armfield’s keen ability to weave the mundane with the existential produces reflections that echo in the heart. Miri’s musings about love are particularly powerful: “I want to explain her in a way that would make you love her, but the problem with this is that loving is something we all do alone.” It’s a gorgeous exploration of intimacy and the individuality of one’s love, an experience that every reader can relate to on some level.
Moreover, the ocean itself serves as a layered character—a site of beauty and terror. Armfield masterfully highlights our ignorance of the depths, paralleling it with the often-uncharted waters of personal relationships and identities. The sea takes on a life of its own, embodying everything forbidden and haunting, keeping us on our toes, oscillating between calm and chaos. My favorite passage beautifully encapsulates this: “The deep sea is a haunted house, a place in which things that ought not to exist move about in the darkness.”
Though the pacing may not satisfy those craving a fast-paced plot, I found it refreshing. The slow burn allowed me to luxuriate in the details—each reminiscence and shadowy encounter felt necessary, each moment pulling me deeper into Miri’s grief. And yes, while the waters may be murky, the emotional clarity is what stays with you, wrapping around like a warm embrace as you turn the last page.
Our Wives Under the Sea is not merely a horror novel; it’s a gut-wrenching exploration of love amidst loss, beautifully articulated through Armfield’s gripping language. I believe it will resonate particularly with readers who appreciate nuanced narratives, those who find comfort in slow-burn stories that delve into grief rather than shy away from it.
For anyone open to exploring a delicate, haunting love story set against the backdrop of an abyss, this novel may just sink into your heart, leaving you both shivering and sobbing long after you’ve reached the shore. Whether you’re a fan of sapphic literature, horror, or simply well-crafted prose, this book offers an experience that will linger like a haunting melody.
5/5—like the ocean, its depths are worth exploring.