The Love of My Life by Rosie Walsh

Emma loves her husband Leo and their daughter Ruby with her whole heart. She’s a well-known marine biologist, a devoted mum, and the kind of wife people write essays about. Leo, an obituary writer, has always been fascinated by Emma’s life and is preparing a tribute to her in secret, after she survives a serious illness.

But when Leo begins researching, everything he thought he knew about his wife unravels. Her name isn’t really Emma. She’s been lying about her past. And someone she claimed was dead is very much alive.

As he digs deeper, Leo discovers a web of secrets and a truth that threatens to change everything. not just about his marriage, but about the woman he thought was the love of his life.

Main Tropes & Themes:

• Identity and reinvention

• Big secrets in a marriage

• Dual timelines / hidden past

• Quiet domestic suspense

• Husband investigating wife’s lies

• Second chances and forgiveness

• Emotional mystery with romantic undertones

Why We Chose It at The Book Muse:
This novel wrecked us in the best way. It’s a love story wrapped in a mystery, or maybe a mystery wrapped in a love story, you won’t be sure until the final chapters. What starts as a quiet, tender exploration of a marriage suddenly spirals into something tense and emotionally charged.

We picked this one because it perfectly balances suspense with heart. It’s about how well we really know the people we love, and what we’re capable of when we think we’ve lost everything. Beautifully written, deeply human, and full of emotional twists, it’s a story you’ll be thinking about long after the last page.