Wow— this is such a powerful read and for anyone who enjoyed “The Yellow Wallpaper” or Sylvia Plath’s The Belle Jar. Following Lulu as an unreliable narrator, or is she reliable— the story begins as a woman striving to be the ultimate 1950’s housewife and mother. From her notorious jello molds to her Good Housekeeping notes, she truly tried to perfect the roles, and we ad the reader see how hard that is to do. Any woman can relate, as we try to appease societal expectations of what a woman “must accomplish” and how burnout is real. As the story unfolds, hysteria, mental health, and grief are all explored beautifully. I found it started slow, but gained momentum quickly and I couldn’t put it down.

Meagan Church's writing really just pulls me right into her stories.

Lulu is a housewife in the 1950's. Queen of molded foods (gelatin salads) and also of A&P stamp books (that brings back some memories). She has a 4 year old son and is pregnant when the story first begins.

I don't want to give away too much in the story. Recently I found out that my second cousin's mother would go to a sanitarium for a couple months every once in a while. We were pretty close with this family, they would visit and bring slides and a projector to show us their vacations. Strange the secrets that are held, even within families.

At the beginning of the book, Meagan Church suggests that if the book is too much, put it down for a little bit. Honestly I thought about doing that around 75%, but I was worried that if I did ... I might not finish. I knew I was already drawn in too much to stop. I'm glad that I finished without putting the book down.

Probably going to be one of my top 5 historical fiction books for 2025.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark Publishing for approving my request to read The Mad Wife in exchange for an honest review. Approx 336 pages, publication date is Nov 2025.

This story was dark. This story was depressing. But this story told the stories of countless housewives in the 1950’s and 1960’s, who had expectations placed on them by their husbands and society at large. They were expected to dress a certain way, clean their home a certain way, host dinners and parties a certain way and raise the children a certain way. And when life threw them a tragedy, they were diagnosed as suffering from “hysteria” and the medical treatments were unimaginable. Such was the life of housewife Lulu, her husband Henry and their young son Wesley. What I didn’t see coming was the twist at exactly 70% in and it gave me a whole new perspective as I raced to the end.

I can’t imagine an author tackling such a depressing topic yet Meagan Church did an excellent job as the reader could feel the feelings that Lulu herself were feeling. While it got uncomfortable at times, I’m happy I saw it through til the last page.

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for giving me the opportunity to read an early digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion. Publication date: November 4

I do like a good story, and this book, wow, it was a story! The Mad Wife by Meagan Church definitely had a twist in the middle I wasn’t expecting. While it was sad, I learned through the story about family, neighbors, and mental health of the 1950s and how it was looked at and treated, which made me think of my grandma. It also has to do with grief and loss, and it may be helpful for someone going through miscarriage or loss of a baby. While it was fictional, I would have though liked to see some faith response in it, but that is not this story. It was definitely a page turner and not the typical type of book I would read, but I am glad I did!

This was a fascinating book. Gives you an insight on mental health and women and how they were treated in the past.
Definitely a darker book that is well worth reading.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Whoa Whoa Whoa! There are so many things I liked about this book! The tone is kind of dark and somber, but it is justifiable. I really connected with Lulu for a variety of reasons. She’s a typical 1950s/early 1960s housewife, with a son and a newborn daughter. She’s the queen of the Jell-O mold and frequently hosts parties for the neighbors or her husband’s clients and work colleagues. She’s drowning in emotions and the amount of work she has to do is daunting. Luckily, most of the other neighborhood wives lend a hand. Some of them feel like Lulu, overwhelmed and unsatisfied with the state of affairs.

Bitsy and her husband move into the house next door, and Lulu can’t quite put her finger on it, but something is wrong with her new neighbor. Soon, Lulu becomes obsessed with Bitsy and through conversations with her best friend, believes that Bitsy’s husband had a lobotomy performed on her. Her sense of reality starts to skew as she struggles to take care of a toddler and newborn and all the household duties she must perform. (There is a literal list from a women’s magazine that all the neighborhood ladies put on their refrigerators that tells them what they have to do each day.)

I did not see the twist in the story, and it’s really quite shocking. This dark family drama is riveting, and you’ll be on the edge of your seat as you discover all the ways white women were treated during the Eisenhower/Kennedy era. It's one of the best books of the year for me.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This book was absolutely fantastic and I could not turn the pages fast enough. I love a good domestic novel but this one had just the right amount of twists to put it at the top of my list. I just loved Lulu’s character and was rooting for her the entire way through. I felt myself get angry and scared and even confused at times as the story unfolded. From start to finish this book was delectable and I will be reading it again and again for decades to come. A beautiful tale of what it’s like to be a woman, a wife, a mother, a human - no matter when it takes place.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The Mad Wife by Meagan Church.

This is a stark reminder of what the mental health industry did to women in the mid 1900's with it's institutionalization, treatments, and containments. When Lulu has her second child, her friends and husband are keeping a close eye on her, knowing that she tends to sink deep into post-partum depression. But when Lulu meets her new neighbor Bitsy, and Bitsy's husband, she begins to get worried. There is something off about Bitsy, and her husband seems a bit too eager to get to know Lulu's husband and share how he helped his wife. It's not long until the phrase "lobotomy" is said that makes Lulu think that she could really be in danger.

Not only was this entertaining, but infuriating, and it's disturbing to know that this most likely happened to women in similar situations. I'm glad that we are no longer straight up removing people's brains when they're annoying.

I loved this. Very much similar to the bell jar by Sylvia Plath and love the writing and the message it gives towards women and how they are often disregarded when it comes to health. Just very good book and highly recommended!

I love a descent into madness, and that’s exactly what this book gives me. I love domestic & psychological suspense and this book delivered on those both!! Love love looooved the twists and turns this book took

Set in the 1950s, this novel follows Lulu, a suburban housewife known for her perfect Jello molds and picture-perfect life. But after the arrival of a new neighbor and the birth of her second child, Lulu begins to unravel. The story dives deep into the claustrophobia of mid-century domesticity, the quiet violence of being watched, and the brutal medical “cures” women were subjected to.

It’s a slow descent into madness, grief, and isolation, told with eerie beauty and flashes of dark humor. The writing is sharp and vivid, though the ending rushes past key resolutions, almost as if the author wanted out as badly as Lulu did. Not for the faint of heart, this is a chilling portrait of motherhood, mental health, and control. Beautiful and devastating.

The Mad Wife by Meagan Church. A suspenseful dark domestic drama that explores the unraveling of Lulu's world after the birth of her second child. There are a wide range of topics addressed including mental health, women's repression during the 1950s, misdiagnosis, grieving and loss. A haunting and emotional read that comes to a shocking climax.

Thank you to the author, SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book when I requested it. Rest assured, if you're like me, you won't be let down. Beautifully written that touches on topics that can be sensitive. Thanks for the ARC!

he Mad Wife is the story of Lulu Mayfield who is close to buckling from the pressure of being the perfect homemaker. While she is famous in her community for her gelatin salads, on the inside she is struggling mightily after having her second child and trying to keep everything together. When a new neighbor, Bitsy, moves in across the street, everything Lulu has built threatens to come tumbling down.

I loved the details of homemaking monotony and the 1950s era that author Meagan Church weaves into Lulu's POV, like how she identifies objects in her and her neighbor's homes and mentally calculates how many of the stamps that she collects from the grocer each one costs.

The distinct discomfort Lulu feels in many situations is palpable, and her loneliness seeps through repeatedly. She struggles with motherhood and keeping house but keeps it to herself, lest she be seen as other. I was reminded often of Revolutionary Road as I read this novel. An outstanding portrait of a woman trying her hardest to be the best wife and mother while she struggles with her mental health. 4.5 stars.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

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.