Sister Wife

Sister Wife 

Sister Wife is the latest memoir to be checked off my to be read list. I’ll be the first to tell you that I don’t read memoirs often, but I still like to periodically, because they tell a story that is often stranger than fiction. 

It is always enlightening. I’ve been an avid Sister Wives fan for years. Although I do think the show should be over now. But when I started watching it, I was curious if polygamy was something that could work. Could love really be multiplied instead of being divided? 

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Once Christine left Kody on the show, I loved watching her blossom and flourish as a woman and a wife. Women glow differently when they are loved correctly, and it is clear that she is loved correctly now. 

I was a huge fan of watching her evolution, because it was something I could relate to, and I’m sure that many other women can too. 

Have you read Sister Wife? Come on in and let me tell you about it! 

About Sister Wife 

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 polygamy 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. 

Thoughts on Sister Wife 

“Kody spent days stringing lights between all of our cul-de-sac houses to signify our connection. He said that if any of us misbehaved, we would be kicked out of the family. 

Awesome.” 

Christine Brown Woolley, Sister Wife

Okay, so let’s start off with saying, if you’ve watched the show, you already know Kody is a shit bag. Like, poster child for what a narcissist is. It’s hard to like him, and even harder after reading this memoir, Sister Wife. Because it confirms many things viewers already suspected. Which is sad. It doesn’t go into much more detail than the show, but does confirm what viewers say about Kody, Robyn, and how things have happened. 

But there are a few glimpses like the quote I added above in Sister Wife, that give the reader the impression that life wasn’t sunshine and roses, as they tried to show viewers on television. Obviously we watch the decline of the family on national television, but it really seems like there were cracks beneath the surface long before that. The book doesn’t go into real details about it, just more confirming what we all suspected.

Past that, if you’re looking for something new that hasn’t been talked about on the show, look elsewhere. Sister Wife is basically an overview of the show. If you’ve watched the show with any sort of consistency, you’ve read the book. I did a buddy read with my wife, and we stopped multiple times to talk about exactly that. A scene we remember from the show, and our reactions to it. It wasn’t anything new or special. 

There were also things that were interesting in Sister Wife, like the history of polygamy and mormons in general. But it almost felt like filler at the same time. I can read that stuff anywhere, really. 

The one thing that stuck out to me the most is Christine’s personality shines through in the book Sister Wife, just as it did on the show. She loves her family more than anything, and she has evolved into an incredibly strong and resilient woman, who deserves the best. 

I still find myself cheering for her continued happiness. We should all find ourselves a version of David. A man who loves you for exactly who you are, flaws and all, and wants to give us the world. As I look at my own husband and my marriage, I find myself constantly grateful that I have exactly that, and it brings me joy to watch other women find that kind of man. 

Final Thoughts on Sister Wife 

I’m calling Sister Wife a three star read. I felt the same way when I read Destroying Their God, in that it is hard to rate a memoir because it is a real story. This isn’t fiction, this is someone’s experience. 

The main thing that irritated me with Sister Wife is that it really is just a basic overview of the show. I can watch all of the season recaps or tell-alls and get the exact same thing. I found myself bored, and asking, “are we there yet?” in regards to finishing the book. 

I also really want Janelle to write a book, just because she is so different personality-wise from Christine. It would be very interesting to hear more about her perspective and experiences in polygamy. Maybe we’ll get that in the future? Who knows. 

If you haven’t watched Sister Wives, you may very well enjoy this book, and as always, I encourage my readers to read the book for yourselves and form your own opinions. You may end up loving it more than I did. But for me, it was just a recap of the show, and felt like a grab for money by pushing it as something new and different from the show. 

I borrowed this book from my local public library, and I am so glad that I didn’t spend any money on it, because that would have simply added even more disappointment for me. I likely would have rated it lower if I had spent money on this book. 

Discussion 

Have you read Sister Wife? Are you a fan of the show? Do you read memoirs? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

About the Author 

Christine Brown Woolley rose to fame as a star of the hit TLC reality show Sister Wives. She has six children, and lives happily in Utah with her husband. 

Sister Wife Author Acknowledgments 

I couldn’t have done any of this without my family, and I’m thankful to be surrounded by people I love and who teach me daily to be better. 

Janelle, thank you for your generosity in sharing your children with me. I am so grateful to be a mom to your kids. 

Aspyn, your exceptional balance of grace and determination inspires me. 

Mykeltie, you are truly the strongest and most resilient person I know. Paedon, you have the biggest and kindest heart, loving everyone. 

Gwendlyn, you strive for justness while maintaining your wonderful humor. 

Ysabel, you listen and care – but refuse to let people walk over you. 

Truely, you are a brilliant advocate for everyone, an old soul who blesses all of us. 

Logan, your sense of purpose and ambition astound me. 

Maddie, you’re determined and won’t take crap from anyone. 

Hunter, you are a just, kind, and sincere gentleman. 

Garrison, I miss your jokes, hugs, humor, understanding – just you, always. 

Gabe, you have a brilliant mind, dissecting everything yet wanting to help people be whole. 

Savannah, you are the stalwart champion of the underdog. 

Leon, you will always seek a true self-love while also loving the true essence of people. 

To David’s children: thank you for welcoming me into your lives and letting me be an Oma to your children. 

Colton, you have overcome so much and still manage to be there for everyone. 

Kati, you’re so full of laughter and love, and you’re a strong, fierce mamma bear. 

Rae, your wisdom, thoughtfulness, and accomplishments are way beyond your years. 

Payton, thank you for giving me the awesome advice to stand up for myself and tell people, “I am Christine Mother &*@* Woolley…” and for being so incredibly insightful with Truely. 

For these couples who showed me what true love looks like (until I found mine with David): Maddie and Caleb, Mykeltie and Tony, Aspyn and Mitch, Logan and Michelle, Leon and Audrey, and Gwendlyn and Benjamin. 

To our grandchildren – I am so lucky to be their Oma: Axel, Evie, Joey and Emilia, Avalon, Archer and Ace, Alice and Emma, Hudson and Paisley, Charlie, Henry, and Louis. There are more in the grandchild list, and more coming, but, hey, I gotta respect their privacy! 

My family, especially my siblings, who have supported me the entire time I’ve been on Sister Wives, even when they thought it was a crazy idea. Phil, Wendy (her husband KC is also amazing), Steve, Danielle, Mary, Levi, Bethany, Erin, Brittany, and Breanne. 

My other family has also supported me in the best of ways: Beth Elaine, Wynter, Lorilyn, Genielle, Tammy, Tricia, and David’s mom, Evelyn, who is an inspirational example of a lady, filled with kindness and goodness – and who doesn’t put up with crap from others. 

To David Tenzer, our first manager/agent, who I consider one of my truest friends: you showed me that the outside world has awesome people in it who truly have my back. 

To our production team: Christopher Poole Productions (formerly Puddle Monkey) and executive producer Tim Gibbons (our first producer who was with Sister Wives until two years ago – we owe the idea of the show to you and your incredible wife, Megan), executive producer Christopher Poole, and Sven Nilsson (the new producer who started after our wedding in the middle of family chaos), and the editors: Stephanie Colemere, Erin Williams, Jake Sorenson, and Jonathan Greene. 

Special thanks to Figure 8 Films and TLC. I have appreciated our partnership, even though spilling my heart is ten kinds of painful. Special thanks to Laurie Goldberg, Meghan Werner, Cassie Bryan, and Nicole Vanderploeg. 

At Figure 8 Films, thank you to executive producers Bill Hayes, Kirk Streb, Deanie Wilcher, and Sven Nillsson; EVP of production management Kami Winningham, supervising producers Jen Stocks and Mary Wilcher; senior producer Scott Wildfong; coordinating producer Maggie Kay; director of photography Doug Monrie; camera person Alex Walkling; audio person Keith Highly; associate producer Elijah Stordeur; and production accountant Shannon James. 

At Trailblazer Studios, thank you to post-production supervisor Christine Mallia and post-production coordinator Corin Warinner. 

Thank you to my friends from Vegas: Deirdre, Ashli, Becky (Hayden Mae, her daughter, still calls me Mom), Connie, Alice, Michelle and Ronda, and Tina and Kimberly – the first friends I made outside my church. 

Thank you to my awesome girlfriends in Flagstaff; most have never even seen Sister Wifes, and it was so refreshing to have such a supportive group of friends during an immensely hard transition in my life. Krista (her daughter, Talei, is still one of my daughters, too), Connie, Christie, and Becky. 

Thank you to the members of Principal Voices for helping me understand I could live without fear. Thank you to Anne Wilde, the first feminist I ever met. And thank you to Joe Darger and his family for being cool polygamists. 

Thanks to Kelly Kennedy, who helped me organize my thoughts and put them into words like she could read my mind, my heart, and my soul. 

Thanks to James Leonard, who first believed in my book. 

Thanks to Simon and Schuster – my editor, James Melia, has been incredible to work with, so easygoing and patient. 

And thank you to James’s assistant, Matt Attanasio, editorial director, Aimee Bell, publisher Jennifer Bergstrom, marketing and publicity vice president Sally Marvin, senior publicity manager Sydney Morris, marketing coordinator Fallon McKnight, senior managing editor Caroline Pallotta, senior production editor Alysha Bullock, and head of interior design Jaime Putorti. It’s incredible how many people had a hand in this! 

A very, very special THANK YOU to the fans of Sister Wives. I have been humbled so many times by the vulnerable, comforting, heartfelt messages you’ve shared with me. When people say they’ve watched the whole season – especially those of you who have watched it many times – I am overwhelmed by all the time you’ve spent with my family, watching our children grow up into the most wonderful humans I have ever known, all the way to the present where we are all apart and a bit broken. 

Thank you for looking beyond your comfort into our lives. I’m so blessed by so many incredible people in my life. THANK YOU! 

Purchasing Sister Wife 

• If you are interested in buying the hardcover version of Sister Wife, click here.
• Click here for the Kindle version.
• Click here for my favorite Kindle I currently own.

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