The Hunting Wives

Sophie is the protagonist and narrator of the novel. She is a 35-year-old wife and mother, and the plot follows her through a transitional life stage after she moves from Chicago to Mapleton, Texas. When she moves, Sophie also leaves her job as an editor in order to focus on caring for her young son and potentially starting a lifestyle blog. She has been shaped significantly by her childhood. Her father abandoned the family, and she and her mother moved frequently. As a result, Sophie has a difficult time forming lasting attachments. She chose her husband, Graham, because he provides her with emotional security and stability. However, Sophie struggles to experience true contentment even though she knows she should be happy with her idyllic life. At one point, she explicitly wonders, “Why isn’t all of this enough?” (41).

Sophie repeatedly makes reckless decisions that contribute to the conflict of the plot and place her in precarious situations. She is primarily motivated by her irrational obsession with Margot. Even before she meets Margot, Sophie develops an infatuation and schemes to find a way to forge a friendship with her. She admits, “I know my fixation with Margot isn’t normal” (52).