Sourcebooks Landmark
The Mad Wife
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From bestselling author Meagan Church comes a haunting exploration of identity, motherhood, and the suffocating grip of societal expectations that will leave you questioning the lives we build--and the lies we live.
They called it hysteria. She called it survival.
Lulu Mayfield has spent the last five years molding herself into the perfect 1950s housewife. Despite the tragic memories that haunt her and the weight of exhausting expectations, she keeps her husband happy, her household running, and her gelatin salads the talk of the neighborhood. But after she gives birth to her second child, Lulu's carefully crafted life begins to unravel.
When a new neighbor, Bitsy, moves in, Lulu suspects that something darker lurks behind the woman's constant smile. As her fixation on Bitsy deepens, Lulu is drawn into a web of unsettling truths that threaten to expose the cracks in her own life. The more she uncovers about Bitsy, the more she questions everything she thought she knew--and soon, others begin questioning her sanity. But is Lulu truly losing her mind? Or is she on the verge of discovering a reality too terrifying to accept?
In the vein of The Bell Jar and The Hours, The Mad Wife weaves domestic drama with psychological suspense, so poignant and immersive, you won't want to put it down.
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Book Details
ISBN:
9781464252556
EAN:
9781464252556
Binding:
Hardcover
Pages:
352
Authors:
Meagan Church
Publisher:
Sourcebooks Landmark
It feels like your with main character very good glad I was able to get the book.
Thanks to Netgalley.com for the ARC of this book. I related to this book so much, even though it was about women in the 50s. That should tell you that even though times change, some things stay the same. I will read anything this author puts out as her last two books were great as well.
Such a powerful book about grief and healing and how brave women are every single day. Definitely recommend this book.
Breathtaking, immersive, and beyond special, The Mad Wife was a story that most women will be able to feel to the depths of their souls. Often overlooked, discouraged, or outright ignored, being female in our society comes with a whole host of dilemmas that men couldn’t possibly understand. Despite this, however, they often get to make judgements and decisions about our bodies and minds. It was this shiver-inducing theme that grabbed me and didn’t let go as I got to know Lulu and her family over the course of the novel. A 1950s housewife gradually losing her grip on her day-to-day life, I got swept up in her story in no time at all. After all, she was everything I could want in an unreliable narrator. Was she losing her mind? I couldn’t tell.In spite of how much I got sucked in by this book, I do have to warn you that it was initially more of a domestic drama than a tale of suspense. A definite slow burn without much tension at first, Lulu’s descent into madness was tempered by the in-depth character study and thought-provoking themes. But let me tell you, when I reached the jaw-dropping twist about 70% in, I found myself shouting “Wait, what?!” into the night. A shocking about-face that had me in tears, it rocked my world in the best possible way. I can’t say much more without spoiling the plot, but just know that it was impossible to predict before its perfectly timed reveal. I mean, I happen to know quite a bit about the topic behind the twist, and I still didn’t see it coming at all.All said and done, this book was not only an ode to The Bell Jar, but also so much more. Exploring motherhood, identity, and the societal expectations we face as women, it was as profound and incisive as it was poignant and unsettling. You see, while this book was set in the 1950s, the kinds of things that happened within these pages still take place, just in a slightly different manner. I mean, how often have you been told that “It’s all in your head?” by a doctor. For this reason alone, I believe this novel would be an excellent book club selection. After all, on top of the character-driven narrative, cliffhanger chapters, and dark, haunting secrets was a plot that was as unforgettable as it was compelling. Rating of 4.5 stars.
I found myself uncertain about the direction of the book for a significant portion of my reading experience. My feelings toward Lulu fluctuated; at times I appreciated her character, while at others, I felt pity for her or wanted to express frustration. One thing I am certain of is my gratitude for not being a housewife in the 1950s. After careful consideration, I settled on a rating of four stars.
