I really enjoyed the first half of this book, the second half fell short for me.

The book was interesting and definitely touched on some great points regarding women and mental illness in the 50s. I did enjoy the numerous elements of Lulu’s story, however the ending seemed super rushed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Lulu Mayfield is the perfect 1950s housewife despite some painful memories and the exhausting expectations of her life. After the birth of her second child her life starts to unravel. When Bitsy a new neighbor moves in, Lulu thinks something darker is hiding behind her. Lulu becomes fixated.
This book really shows what being a housewife in the 1950s was like and being a mother. The themes were deep and some relatable even now. The writing was thought provoking and engaging. I was feeling all sorts of emotions for Lulu throughout this story. This would make a great book club pick!

This is most definitely a slow burn that will explode at 70%. Trust me, it’s worth the wait and you’ll be engaged the entire time.

The author does an incredible job of making you feel what a 1950s housewife went through and the loneliness of it all. Some of it parallels with being a mother now, which is relatable for all the moms out there. There are some pretty heavy topics which the author mentions before reading.

Thanks to Net Galley for this 5-star read! Absolutely adored it.

The Mad Wife by Meagan Church ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sourcebooks Landmark
Pub Date: 11-4-25

Thank you @netgalley, @bookmarked, and @mchurchwriter for the opportunity to read this eARC.

"Any words I had would only solidify his belief that I was nothing more than the hysterical housewife, another woman lost to the epidemic of nerves mixed with boredom and madness."

A seemingly light story of a 1950s housewife collecting S&H Green
Stamps and creating Jell-O molds that are the hit of her suburban neighborhood unfolds to reveal much deeper themes. I was completely pulled into Lulu's world leaving me angry and wanting to fight for Lulu.

I love suggested reading - especially after a piece of historical fiction revs me up - and now look forward to reading Unwell Women: Misdiagnosis and Myth in a Man-Made World by Elinor Cleghorn.

From the Author's Note:

"I set out to write a novel about the silencing of women’s voices, about medical misdiagnoses and the dangerous consequences of being dismissed. In the end, it was the ghosts who whispered the truth."

"Which brings us to Lulu, a suburban housewife, who lives out the ghost story of the women whose mental and physical health suffered when their voices and experiences were silenced instead of being heard and understood."

An emotionally charged book that you will find hard to put down. I finished it in one day. Lulu's story is filled with sadness, compassion, frustration, humor (loved her recounting of the green stamps for different things), and justice for perseverance. Every woman should read this and it wouldn't hurt for men either. Will definitely be reading more by this author. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I truly enjoyed this book and heading in reverse to the 1950"s.
Not an easy time for women in general and then find yourself not able to "rise up" to the daily housewife and mother task; creates being the talk of the neighborhood and not able to understand why.
Lulu is the main character and she is in a "step-ford wives" like community. They ladies all watch each other and keep each other accountable in many ways with all the house tasks, including child rearing and cooking.
When a tragedy ensues for Lulu and her family, things collapse in her world and the downward journey begins.

This story in many ways rang true as I can recall this time in our history and living among some who also experienced these difficulties in their lives and remember the whispers, sadness and heartache.

I highly recommend this novel for anyone who enjoys historical fiction, psychological trauma and a wonderful book.
Thank you to @NetGalley and to @Sourcebooks for this ARC and allowing me to read and provide my own review.

Wow- I had to sit with this one for a bit before reviewing. There’s a lot to think about and process through.

This thought-provoking novel takes place in 1950’s suburbia and revolves around Lulu, her husband Henry, and their young son Wesley. It explores many themes: mental health, repression of women, misdiagnosis, grief, and loss. It was interesting (and disheartening) to read a novel that takes place in the 50’s and experience matters that, while to a lesser degree, are still applicable today.

I can’t go into any specifics about this story, as it will lead to too many spoilers. It’s a slow burn, with a little suspense and suburban neighborhood drama mixed in. Parts are heartbreaking and difficult to read, and may be triggering for some readers, as the author kindly warns in the beginning of the book. This novel will stick with you well after you read it, and would make for a good book club discussion.

*Thank you @netgalley and @sourcebooks @bookmarked for this advanced reader copy. This book hits shelves on November 4!

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

At first, I wasn’t sure where The Mad Wife was headed—what began as a seemingly familiar story of a traditional housewife grappling with the weight of motherhood and domestic life felt predictable. But Meagan Church surprised me. A twist I didn’t see coming completely reframed the narrative, prompting a genuine moment of insight and emotional connection. That shift changed everything for me. By the end, I found myself deeply engaged and moved. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy character-driven stories with unexpected depth.

The Mad Wife by Meagan Church struck a chord with me and kept me enthralled throughout the entire book.

The novel tells the story of Lulu Mayfield, a housewife and mother of Wesley, wife of Henry, and who is pregnant and then postpartum after the birth of her second child. Lulu's life is a cycle of being a wife, being a mom, making her famous gelatin salads, and keeping her house in a beautiful neighborhood and she's slowly unraveling.

While Lulu is struggling, a new neighbor moves in and Lulu thinks she's keeping a secret as she's not quite like everyone else. She starts trying to find out what secret, Bitsy, the neighbor is harboring, all while grappling with her own disillusionment with her own life.

As a housewife myself, I absolutely related to some of the sheer boredom that Lulu felt and the author expertly wove the feelings of boredom and disillusionment that Lulu felt.

The mystery in the book kept me intrigued and I was surprised by the way everything played out.

The author kept me entertained and I read this late into the night because I just didn't want to put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

A psychological book full of suspense. In the 1950’s, the domestic life of Lulu starts to fall apart when a new neighbor moves in. I enjoyed every word of this story.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I typically give a book about 40% until I dnf, but I felt like this book wasn't going to get better. I unfortunately dnf'd it at 25%. I felt the story was very slow, and there was just nothing interesting going on.

Set in suburbia in the mid-1950s, Church's novel explores the then-popular diagnosis of female hysteria, brought on in unhappy housewives who were stressed with childbearing, housekeeping, and loneliness. Lulu is the mother of four-year-old Wesley, and is expecting another child. Something is off, however. Lulu cares for the pink blanket, becomes attached to the new neighbor's cat, and repeatedly fails at making her famous Jello salad. The novel follows Lulu through her stay in the sanitorium and the electroshock treatment, only to reveal she has been misdiagnosed. The story is disturbing and sad, but offers a good peek into the lives of stay-at-home mothers in the 1950s.

As a stay at home wife myself this book was fascinating. I loved how it was a blend of stepford wives with a side of how well do we really know our neighbors. It was a fun little mystery and kept me on my toes I think it was also wrapped up well. I would have liked a bit more background on all the characters but I understand that would have made the book way too long.

3 stars

It’s the 1950s, when, I don’t know, but it doesn’t really matter. Lulu Mayfield is married to Henry, an architect who is waiting for a big promotion. They have one child, Wesley, and live in a nice neighborhood, with Lulu busy running her household and making gelatin salads. It all sounds pretty typical for those of their race and socio-economic status at the time.

Then Bitsy (you have to love these names) moves in across the street and there’s something a little bit off about her. Lulu doesn’t like her but also wants to know her secret. At the same time, Lulu is becoming more and more unhappy with life.

I was torn about this book. I really enjoyed the first half but didn’t like the second nearly as much. Yes, women’s health complaints were certainly often ignored or misdiagnosed then (and the more things change…). But the author, while drawing attention to some uncomfortable truths, on one hand, also, takes the easy way out, I felt. It’s hard to say much without spoilers. 4 stars for part one, 2 stars for part two means…..carry the nine….3 stars.

The gasp I gusped when I hit the 70% mark of this book. I had to immediately keep going. That twist I did not see coming at all. This author is such a great historical storyteller and I loved this book.

3 stars- I don't think I'm in the right headspace to be reading this. I had to put down around 30% through and will revisit it another time. thanks netgalley & the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

A fascinating read. Having just read “The Jane’s” about the underground abortion providers in Canada around the same time this book took place underscores the need for today’s generation to understand the rights that women finally achieved in the past 50 years. While this tale is set in the 50’s it is a cautionary tale about the freedoms that women can lose in today’s world.

The Mad Wife by Meagan Church is a masterful blend of psychological suspense and dark domestic drama that will keep you hooked from the very first page. Lulu Mayfield is the quintessential 1950s housewife—polished, obedient, and perfectly curated—until her world begins to unravel in the most unsettling ways after the birth of her second child. Enter Bitsy, the new neighbor whose bright smile conceals something sinister. As Lulu’s obsession with Bitsy grows, so does the tension, drawing us deeper into a web of secrets, lies, and perhaps even madness. Is Lulu losing her grip on reality, or is she uncovering truths too terrifying to face? The novel expertly blurs this line, making every twist feel genuine and earned. Church’s writing is as immersive as it is haunting, capturing the suffocating expectations of the era while simmering with chilling suspense. This book isn’t just a read—it’s an experience, a haunting exploration of identity, repression, and the shadows lurking behind a picture-perfect life. Prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions, shocking revelations, and a climax that lingers long after the final page. The Mad Wife is a dark gem that deserves all five stars—and then some!

I loved this story about a traditional housewife that struggles with her life after her second baby is born - there were twists I wasn't expecting. Would highly recommend as a book club pick!